Friday, February 20, 2015
CANYON, TEXAS — Junior right fielder
Marleyna Piñon (Rio Rancho, N.M./Volcano Vista HS) had two doubles and three runs batted in to lead the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (9-3) to a doubleheader sweep of Newman University (2-7), Friday afternoon at Sports Park #1 in Canyon, Texas. The Zias claimed both wins by identical 6-1 scores.
The contests were the first meetings between the programs. The victories also gave Eastern its first four-game win streak since last February.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will play a doubleheader against St. Edwards, tomorrow in Canyon, Texas. The first pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. MT.
Game 1 Aja Secheslingloff (Fr., Acampo, Calif./Lodi HS) allowed just one run in the game, coming on a one-out single to Delaney Hiegert in the second inning, to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. The Zias finally tied the game after capitalizing on a pair of errors in the fourth, on a squeeze bunt from
Morgan Green (Jr., 3B Carmichael, Calif. / Del Campo HS / Sacramento City College). After Secheslingloff sat down the next three batters, ENMU exploded offensively in the bottom of the fifth. Eastern sent eight batters to the plate and scored five runs in an inning highlighted by Piñon's three-run double for a 6-1 lead.
Eastern pounded out 10 hits to reach double figures for the seventh time this season. Piñon batted two-for-two, while
Amanda Martinez (Sr., CF, Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown HS/El Paso CC) and
Jacqueline Candelaria (Sr., 2B, Los Lunas, N.M./Los Lunas HS) each had a pair of hits. Secheslingloff scattered seven hits and fanned a season-best six batters to improve to 7-1 on the season. Kelsey Jones gave up five earned runs over four innings to take the loss for Newman.
Game 2 Kiara Zerr (Fr., P, Los Alamos, N.M./Los Alamos HS) scattered five hits over five innings to earn the win in game two and fanned three batters. Martinez drew a walk to lead off the game, stole second, took third on a ground out and scored on ground ball off the bat of
Audrey Velasquez (So., 1B, Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS). The Jets pulled even in the fourth, but ENMU responded with single runs in the fifth and sixth to seize a 3-1 advantage. Freshman designated player
Simone Laurenz (Portales, N.M./Portales HS) broke the game open with a two-run triple in the seventh and scored on
Susannah Chandler's (So., SS, Farmington, N.M./Piedra Vista HS) single to provide the final margin.
Senior pitcher
Vanessa Ramirez (Lubbock, Texas/Lubbock HS) tossed two hitless innings to register the first save of her career. Eastern pounded out 11 hits and was led by Chandler's three-for-four performance with a double and RBI. Jessica Cromer allowed 11 hits in the loss.
