Tuesday, April 07, 2015

PORTALES, N.M. — Kyra Sirag (Jr., 1B/C, Garden Grove, Calif./Rancho Alamitos HS) batted four-for-seven with two doubles and four runs batted in during Tuesday's doubleheader against Lubbock Christian (29-9) at Zia Field. The Eastern New Mexico University softball team (16-20) dropped an 8-4 decision in the opener and a 13-5 decision in the nightcap.
 
Amanda Martinez (Sr., CF, Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown HS/El Paso CC) also batted four-for-seven over the two games and has reached base in 28 consecutive games. Morgan Green (3B/1B, Carmichael, Calif./Del Campo HS/Sacramento City College) has reached safely in 10 games, while Sirag has a six-game hit streak.
 
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will continue its home stand on Friday, with a Lone Star Conference doubleheader against defending NCAA Division II champion, West Texas A&M. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. MT. The teams will conclude their series with a Saturday doubleheader.
 
Game 1
In the opener, Lubbock Christian broke a scoreless tie on Ashton Bell's solo homerun in the top of the second. Eastern was set up well when Martinez singled to lead off with an infield single, followed by a double to left from Sirag. One batter later, Eastern tied the game when Martinez scored on Audrey Velasquez (Sr., 2B, Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS) ground ball. The Zias took a 2-1 lead on Green's two-out RBI single.
 
ENMU maintained the 2-1 lead as Aja Secheslingloff (Fr., P, Acampo, Calif./Lodi HS) limited LCU to one run on four hits over the first five innings of the game. The Lady Chaps sent 12 batters to the plate in the sixth inning and exploded for seven runs on eight hits, to seize an 8-2 lead. The inning opened with three consecutive singles, followed by Addison Ard's bases loaded walk, to tie the game. Lubbock Christian took a 3-2 lead on a single from Faith Koria and broke the game open on a grand slam from Sydney Beuthien. ENMU closed to within four runs on a two-run blast from Sirag in the seventh.
 
The Lady Chaps held a 14-7 edge in total hits. Martinez and Sirag both batted two-for-four, while Sirag doubled and homered. Courtney McGee earned the win and allowed two earned runs on seven hits. Vanessa Ramirez (Sr., P, Lubbock, Texas/Lubbock HS) blanked LCU on 1.1 innings of two-hit relief.
 
Game 2
The Lady Chaps wasted little time in seizing an 8-0 lead in the nightcap. LCU sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning and plated seven runs. Beuthien added a solo homer in the second inning. Eastern capitalized on a pair of Lady Chap errors in the bottom of the second to plate five runs and close within three.
 
Lubbock Christian slowly continued to pull away and increased their lead to 13-5 in the fifth inning. The game was ended due to the eight-run differential. The Lady Chaps held a 17-10 edge in total hits. Martinez, Sirag and Audrey Velasquez all batted two-for-three. Kelsey Hoppel allowed five unearned runs on 10 hits for LCU.
 
Notes
In 16 relief appearances this season, Vanessa Ramirez has not allowed a run in 10 of her appearances
 
Beuthien's grand slam in the first game was just the second given up by Eastern this season (Cameron had the other)
 
LCU entered the game ranked second in the nation in batting, fourth in homers per game, fourth in scoring and second in both doubles and slugging