Saturday, February 07, 2015
WEATHERFORD, OKLA. — Senior outfielder
Amanda Martinez (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown HS/El Paso CC) batted .667 over two games on Saturday and registered the 25
th stolen base of her career. Her performance allowed the Eastern New Mexico University softball team to split the first two games of the season, with an 8-5 win over Oklahoma Science & Arts (2-1) and a 6-2 setback to Southwestern Oklahoma State (1-4) at the SWOSU Round Robin at The Athletic Complex.
The Zias improved to 2-3 against Oklahoma Science & Arts and snapped a two-game skid in the series, with the other win coming in a 6-0 decision on April 8, 2001. Eastern dropped to 3-6 against Southwestern Oklahoma and has dropped their last two decisions in the series.
Vs Oklahoma Science & Arts The beginning of the season opener had the appearance of a slugfest, with the teams combining for seven runs in the first inning. Martinez and
Jacqueline Candelaria (Sr., 2B, Los Lunas, N.M./Los Lunas HS) led off with singles, followed by a RBI single from
Audrey Velasquez (So., 1B, Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS). Right fielder
Marleyna Piñon (Jr., Rio Rancho, N.M./Volcano Vista HS) followed with a three-run homer to give Eastern a 4-0 advantage. Shania Beck answered with a two-out, three run blast in the bottom of the inning.
ENMU starting pitcher
Aja Secheslingloff (Fr., Acampo, Calif./Lodi HS) quieted the Drovers' bats and allowed just one earned run over the final six innings. Catcher
Aurelia Sandoval (Sr., Farmington, N.M./Piedra Vista HS) singled in a run in the third inning, and smacked a two-run blast in the fifth frame.
Secheslingoff went the route for ENMU and scattered 12 hits with three strikeouts. Sandoval batted three-for-four and drove in three runs. Jaci Booker suffered the loss for Oklahoma Science & Arts and allowed four runs.
Vs. Southwestern Oklahoma State Amanda Martinez led off with a single up the middle and swiped second, before scoring home after a Candelaria ground out and an
Audrey Velasquez fielders' choice. The Bulldogs quickly answered with a two-run blast from Adrienne Martinez in the bottom of the inning.
Eastern used a similar formula, with a leadoff single from Martinez, followed by a pair of ground balls in the third inning. She was able to sprint home to tie the game on a two-out single through the right side of SWOSU infield by Piñon. The Bulldogs capitalized on a Zia error in the fifth inning to plate three unearned runs and tacked on a sixth run in the sixth inning.
Martinez batted two-for-three with two runs scored. Rileigh Ricken went the distance for Southwestern Oklahoma and allowed two runs on five hits.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will close play at the SWOSU Round Robin on Sunday, against Washburn. The first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. MT.
NotesEastern won its season opener for the first time since the 2012 season
Sandoval hit the sixth homerun of her career
