Softball | 2/18/2016 4:31:00 PM

Thursday, February 18, 2016

PORTALES, N.M. — This weekend the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (5-4) will travel to Grand Prairie, Texas, for five games in the North Texas Softball Bash. Those games will be the Greyhounds' final preparation for a four-game series with Midwestern State, next weekend, to open the Lone Star Conference schedule.

Entering the weekend, the Hounds boast a .963 fielding percentage, with a pair of double plays turned. Aja Secheslingloff leads a pitching staff with a 4-1 record, a 3.18 earned run average, and a 25-to-7 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. Over two seasons, the sophomore hurler has posted a 12-3 record in February contests. Erikka Burke paces the lineup with a .469 batting average, nine runs batted in, and two homers. She enters the weekend on a five-game hit streak.

Eastern New Mexico University Athletics
Greyhound Softball
Greyhound Roster
Greyhound Schedule
Greyhound Statistics

In Recent Action
On Tuesday, Eastern split a home doubleheader with New Mexico Highlands and moved to 3-1 at home this season. Eastern charged to a 10-0 lead in the opener and allowed just one run before the game ended due to the run rule. ENMU dropped a 7-5 decision in the nightcap, despite drawing a season-best seven walks.

Against Opponents From the North Texas Softball Bash
Friday will be the 16^th meeting between ENMU and the national powerhouse team from Lubbock Christian. The Lady Chaps have won all 15 contests between the programs and are 3-0 in the series on neutral fields.

Eastern has never competed against Texas Wesleyan.

They Greyhounds have not played perennial NAIA powerhouse Oklahoma City University since the 2008 season. The Stars hold a 3-2 record against Eastern and won the last meeting (April 4, 2008) by a 5-1 score. All five meetings have been on neutral sites.

ENMU boasts an 18-9 record against Texas-Permian Basin and has won two of the last three meetings. The Hounds are 2-1 against the Falcons in neutral-site games.

The Greyhounds are 47-9 against Oklahoma Panhandle and have won five of the last six. Eastern holds a 4-2 advantage over the Aggies in neutral-site games.

Against Midwestern State
Midwestern State Athletics
Mustang Softball
Mustang Roster
Mustang Schedule
Mustang Statistics

Entering this weekend, Midwestern State is 9-7, and on a four-game win streak. The Mustangs will play four games in the Northeastern State Softball Festival, before they visit Portales.

Kristen Cruickshank blanked Midwestern State to earn a 1-0 decision on February 2, 2008. That win stands as the only blemish on the Mustangs record against ENMU in the 11 meetings. On neutral fields,
MSU holds a 4-1 lead in the series.

Last season, Midwestern State posted a 24-24 record and finished seventh in the LSC with an 11-17 mark.

Up Next
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will follow the Midwestern State series with a home doubleheader against Lubbock Christian.