Wednesday, February 25, 2015
PORTALES, N.M. — A three-run blast off the bat of junior designated player
Kyra Sirag (Garden Grove, Calif./Rancho Alamitos HS) highlighted a come-from-behind effort as the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (12-4) overcame a seven-run deficit to post a 10-9 victory over visiting University of the Southwest (6-6) in the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader at Zia Field. The Zias scored early and often, en-route to a 10-1 win, in the opener.
The win improved Eastern to 30-5 overall against Southwest and marked the first doubleheader sweep of the Mustangs since February 13, 2013. It also marked ENMU's first 4-0 home record since the 2009 season. Dating back to last season, Eastern has won its last five home contests.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will open a Lone Star Conference series at Midwestern State, on Friday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Game 2The Mustangs capitalized on a throwing error, followed by a RBI double from Taly Ramirez in the top of the first inning, but Eastern answered with a one-out, two-run single from
Marleyna Piñon (Jr., RF, Rio Rancho, N.M./Volcano Vista HS) to even the game up.
After being retired in order in the top of the second inning, USW sent 12 batters to the plate in the third and exploded for six runs. The Mustangs added a solo homer from Natalie Ortiz in the fourth inning, for a 9-2 lead. After they stranded a pair of runners in the third inning, ENMU answered by sending 11 batters to the plate in the fourth inning and plated six runs on seven hits, to pull within 9-8. The Zias started the fourth-inning rally with two outs and closed within 9-7 on a three-run blast from Sirag.
Susannah Chandler (So., SS, Farmington, N.M./Piedra Vista HS) followed with a double and scored on a RBI single from
Elizabeth Velasquez (Sr., LF, Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS). Both teams were held scoreless in the fifth, but Sirag and Chandler led off the ENMU sixth with back-to-back singles. After a ground ball from
Elizabeth Velasquez moved both into scoring position,
Morgan Green (Jr., 3B, Carmichael, Calif./Del Campo HS/Sacramento City College) dropped a squeeze bunt back to USW pitcher Brianna Johnson, to bring in the tying run, while
Amanda Martinez (Sr., CF, Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown HS/El Paso CC) plated the game winner with a sacrifice fly to left.
Senior pitcher
Vanessa Ramirez (Lubbock, Texas/Lubbock HS) entered the contest in the fourth inning, retired 12 of the 15 batters she faced, allowed just two hits and walked none to earn her second win of the season. Sirag and Chandler both batted three-for-four and combined to score five runs. Johnson went the distance for the Mustangs and suffered her first loss of the season in three decisions.
Game 1Martinez sparked the Zia offense in the first two innings of the opener. She led off the first inning with a bunt single, stole second, and took third on an errant throw, before scoring on
Jaqueline Candelaria's (Sr., 2B, Los Lunas, N.M./Los Lunas HS) sacrifice fly. Martinez added a two-run triple in the second frame and scored on a Candelaria sacrifice fly, to give ENMU a 4-0 lead/ The Zias sent 11 batters to the plate in the third and surged to a 10-0 lead, before the Mustangs scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. The game ended due to ENMU holding a lead of at least eight runs after five innings.
Aja Secheslingloff (Fr., P, Acampo, Calif./Lodi HS) scattered three hits and fanned five batters with no walks, to improve to 8-2 for the season. Candelaria batted one-for-one, with four RBIs and a pair of sacrifice flies. Martinez hit two-for-three, drove in three runs and took over sole possession of fourth place on the career stolen base list.
NotesOver her last three appearances, Ramirez has a 2-0 record with one save and has allowed a .077 batting average on just two hits
The last time Eastern has won at least 12 of its first 16 games came in the 2001 season (12-3-1)
The Zias are now 9-1 when registering at least 10 hits in a game
