SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The University of the Southwest softball team opened its four‑game series at Our Lady of the Lake University on Friday afternoon, dropping both games of a road doubleheader. The Mustangs fell 9–0 in the opener and 6–0 in the second game, with the series set to continue Saturday with two more contests.
In game one, the Saints generated early momentum, scoring in each of the first four innings to build a 9–0 lead. Southwest was held without a hit, as OLLU threw a complete‑game no‑hitter, striking out eight and walking one through five innings. Southwest's best opportunity came in the second inning when Saydi Mendez reached after being hit by a pitch and proceeded to steal second, but the Mustangs were unable to bring him home. Alexis Belen pitched all four innings for Southwest, facing 26 batters and allowing 11 hits while working through a powerful Saints lineup.
Game two featured a steadier defensive effort from the Mustangs, who kept the game scoreless through three innings before Our Lady of the Lake broke through with three runs in the fourth. The Saints added one run in the fifth and two in the sixth to secure the 6–0 final. Southwest recorded its lone hit of the day in the fourth inning, a single by Dalaney Utajara. In the circle, Cali Saldana delivered a composed start, allowing three runs and five hits over four innings before Jazmynn Hernandez entered in relief for the final two frames.
Despite the losses, Southwest showed defensive improvement in the second game, committing just one error after a challenging opening outing. Offensively, the Mustangs continued to work deep into counts and create baserunning opportunities, highlighted by Utajara's hit in game two and Mendez's reach‑and‑steal sequence in game one.
Southwest and Our Lady of the Lake will conclude the series on Saturday with another doubleheader in San Antonio. First pitch for game three is scheduled for 9 a.m. (MST), followed by the series finale afterward.
Head Coach Chris Petroski
"We have no offense right now. We are not fighting to win when we can't get on base. I am thinking of a solution, but the girls have to dig deep and find the fight inside them to compete."
