Sunday, February 08, 2015
WEATHERFORD, OKLA. — Junior right fielder
Marleyna Piñon (Rio Rancho, N.M./Volcano Vista HS) bashed a game-tying home run in the fourth inning as the Eastern New Mexico University softball team cruised to a 14-9 victory over Washburn University (0-2), Sunday afternoon in the SWOSU Round Robin at The Athletic Complex. The victory marked the first time since the 2006 season in which the Zias won two of their first three games.
The victory snapped a three-game skid in the series against the Ichabods. It also marked the second time ENMU defeated Washburn and the first time since a 7-5 decision on March 6, 2010.
Eastern managed to load the bases with two outs in the top of the first inning, but Washburn starter Taylor Kemp managed to escape the jam. In the bottom of the frame, Cassidy Merriman drew a one-out walk, advanced on a ground out and scored the first run of the game on a single from Jordan Erickson. The Ichobods later capitalized on an error and tacked on a second run, but Eastern got its offense on track in the top of the second inning. Designated player
Simone Laurenz (Fr., Portales, N.M./Portales HS) drew a one-out walk and took third on
Savannah Chavez's (Sr., LF, Albuquerque, N.M./Valley HS) double to right field. Eastern got on the board when
Amanda Martinez (Sr., CF, Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown HS/El Paso CC) cracked a RBI double down the right field line, and tied the game when third baseman Savannah Moore was unable to handle a ground ball off the bat of
Audrey Velasquez (So., SS, Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS).
Morgan Green (Jr., 2B, Carmichael, Calif./Del Campo HS/Sacramento City College) dropped down a squeeze bunt to plate Martinez, to give ENMU a 3-2 advantage.
Back-to-back one out doubles from
Susannah Chandler (So., 3B, Farmington, N.M./Piedra Vista HS) and Laurenz in the top of the third inning gave ENMU a 4-2 lead, but the Ichobods scored three in the bottom of the inning for a 5-4 lead. In the top of the fourth, Piñon cracked her second homer of the season, to tie the game. The Zias seized the lead for good, 8-5 on Velasquez's three-run double in the fifth inning. A two-run single from Laurenz highlighted a five-run Zia sixth, which saw the lead expand to 14-5.
The Ichabods plated a pair of runs in each of the final two innings, but the Zias added a final run in the top of the seventh and held on for the win.
Eastern pounded out 17 hits, marking the second time in three games ENMU has registered at least 15 hits. Chavez batted three-for-four with two doubles, while Laurenz added three hits, three runs batted in and a double. Martinez had two hits and notched the 26
th stolen base of her career.
Aja Secheslingloff (Fr., Acampo, Calif./Lodi HS) earned her second win of the season with four innings of relief and had a pair of strikeouts. Kemp suffered the loss for Washburn and allowed seven earned runs on 13 hits over five innings.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will return to action on Friday, February 13, for the Desert Stinger Tournament, in Las Vegas, Nev. The first scheduled opponent is St. Could State and the first pitch is set for 3 p.m. MT.
