Friday, March 11, 2016

PORTALES, N.M. — Susannah Chandler, Kyra Sirag, and Audrey Velasquez all registered a pair of hits over Friday's Lone Star Conference doubleheader at Greyhound Field. Texas A&M-Commerce (21-5; LSC 7-3) used a combination of speed and power to take a pair of games from the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (9-17; LSC 2-8).

"We can't give them free bases," said ENMU head coach Katie Welborn. "We have to be cognizant and throw the ball more to prevent free bases."

The teams will conclude their series with another doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at noon, at Greyhound Field.

Game 2
After the Lions scored single runs in each of the first two innings, they capitalized on a Greyhound error to seize a 7-0 lead in the third inning. Audrey Velasquez had a one-out double down the left field line in the bottom of the third, and came home on Chandler's bunt single. A&M-Commerce continued to pull away and the game was ended after five innings, due to a lead in excess of eight runs.

Velasquez paced the Hounds with a two-for-three performance which included her team-best eighth double of the season. Erikka Burke made her second appearance in as many weeks and allowed just two hits. The junior has allowed just two runs in appearances against Angelo State and Texas A&M-Commerce. "I normally go to my curve ball, because that is my best pitch," said Burke. "I like to stay ahead on the count and get the edge over my opponent."

Luci Ponce and Cherie Jackson each drove in four runs for the Lions. A&M-Commerce stole seven bases in the game, with Tyler Oppenheim and Ciera Nunez having two apiece. Brittany Woolridge went the distance to earn her eighth win of the season.

Game 1
Kiana Zerr nearly worked around a leadoff walk and infield single to start the game, but Johnna Sturm's two-out single gave the Lions a 2-0 lead. After an error to leadoff the bottom of the first inning and a one-out single from Chandler, the Hounds had the game-tying run on base, but were unable to score.

Zerr held A&M-Commerce in check and the score remained 2-0 after four innings. After Ponce and Sturm homered in the top of the fifth, the Lion's lead ballooned to 5-0.
Texas A&M-Commerce added three runs over the final two innings and held on for the win.

Sirag batted two-for-three in the game, while Chandler singled. Zerr finished with four strikeouts and notched her third complete game of the season. The Lions finished with five stolen bases for the game, while Selena Rima went the distance in the circle with four strikeouts.