Sunday, February 14, 2016
CANYON, TEXAS — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team (4-3) scored five runs in the second inning on five hits and never looked back, en-route to an 11-6 win over 12th-ranked St. Mary's (8-4), Sunday at Buffalo Sports Park.
Kyra Sirag paced the Greyhounds with a two-for-four performance, with a double, and two runs batted in.
The win was just the fourth for ENMU in the series against the Rattlers and the first since a 10-9 decision on February 7, 2002.St. Mary's had won eight consecutive decisions against Eastern and holds a 4-11 edge in the overall series. On neutral fields' the Rattlers only hold a one-game edge in the series (4-5). Over Sunday's two games, the Greyhounds drew 11 walks.
Raynelle Nash's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first gave the Rattlers a 1-0 lead. Despite being retired in order in the first inning, the Greyhounds got their offense on track early. ENMU sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the second inning, scored five runs and never looked back. With two outs, Sirag chased
Morgan Green home from third, with a game-tying RBI double.
Natasha Kissell scored on a wild pitch to give the Hounds the lead for good, and
Victoria Rodriguez followed with a RBI single. Two batters later, Erika Burke delivered a two-run single for a 5-1 Greyhound lead.
Although the Rattlers scored twice in the bottom of the second to pull within 5-3, but the Hounds would not relent. Eastern batted around in the top of the third and scored four more runs to seize a 9-3 advantage. Kissell drove a bases-loaded, one-out single to centerfield to drive in a pair of runs. Sirag and Rodriguez also drove in runs.
St. Mary's scored twice in the bottom of the third, but the Hounds capitalized on a pair of errors to score twice in the fourth. The Rattlers managed one more run, but came no closer as ENMU held on to win by an 11-6 score.
Aja Secheslingloff went the distance and scattered 10 hit to garner her third win of the season. St. Mary's used six pitchers, with starter Jorden Russell suffering the loss after two innings of work. Kissell batted two-for-three, scored twice and drove in two runs.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will return to action on Tuesday, to host New Mexico Highlands. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at noon.
