WESTWEGO, La. — The University of the Southwest softball team completed its three-game series at the Alario Jr. Sports Complex on Thursday, dropping a doubleheader to Xavier (La.) after falling in the series opener on Wednesday evening.
Game One: Xavier 7, Southwest 1
Southwest was limited offensively in the series opener, managing two hits in a 7–1 loss on Wednesday night.
Xavier scored twice in the first inning and broke the game open with a five-run fifth. Hannah Campos accounted for the Mustangs' lone run, doubling in the seventh inning before later scoring.
Jazmynn Hernandez started in the circle and was relieved by Sophia Jimenez as Southwest worked to contain Xavier's lineup.
Game Two: Xavier 5, Southwest 4 (8 innings)
Southwest came within an out of evening the series in a tightly contested extra-inning battle, but Xavier rallied late to secure a 5–4 walk-off win in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader.
The Mustangs built an early advantage with two runs in the opening frame. Kamryn Cantu delivered an RBI double before Elexes Martinez followed with a run-scoring single to give Southwest a 2–0 lead. The advantage grew to 4–0 in the fifth inning as Hannah Campos doubled and Martinez collected her second RBI of the game.
Behind a strong outing from Alexis Belen in the circle, Southwest held Xavier scoreless through the first five innings. The Gold Rush responded in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game before plating the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Cantu finished a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Martinez drove in two runs.
Game Three: Xavier 7, Southwest 3
In the finale, Southwest again struck first but could not overcome a six-run second inning in a 7–3 loss.
The Mustangs plated the opening run in the second inning when Kayla Valdez worked a bases-loaded walk to bring home Hannah Campos. Xavier answered immediately, sending 11 batters to the plate to take control of the game.
Southwest continued to battle, with Dalaney Utajara recording two RBIs, a run-scoring single in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Valdez finished 2-for-3, while Kamryn Cantu reached base twice.
Jazmynn Hernandez went the distance in the circle, settling in after the early inning and keeping Xavier off the scoreboard over the final two frames.
Head Coach Chris Petroski
"It was a tough series for us. We fell short on offense in the first game and having one bad inning on defense that turned ugly. It was good to get on board first in game two, but fell apart against the small ball later in the game. In the third game, our defense collapsed early and even though our defense drew some walks and produced some hits, it just wasn't enough. Overall, one poor defensive inning in each game of the series hurt us bad. We need to regroup next week and take the series next weekend at home."
Southwest continues conference play next week at home as the Lady Mustangs face Jarvis Christian on April 10.
