Saturday, March 12, 2016
PORTALES, N.M. — Errika Burke pitched three innings, while
Kyra Sirag was just a double shy of the cycle, as the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (10-18; LSC 3-9) closed its Lone Star Conference series with an 8-7 win over Texas A&M-Commerce. The Lions (22-6; LSC 8-4) claimed a 14-6 victory to open Saturday's doubleheader at Greyhound Field.
"I'm incredibly proud of Kyra and Erikka," said head coach
Katie Welborn. "We fought incredibly hard and I'm so proud of all of them."
The victory was Eastern's second in the all-time series against Texas A&M-Commerce, which began last season. This weekend marked the first home games for the Hounds against the Lions. Shortstop
Susannah Chandler hit safely in all four games to extend her hitting streak to a season-high six games.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will return to action on Friday, to open another Lone Star Conference series at Cameron. The first game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. MT.
Game 2Facing a 5-1 deficit in the nightcap, the Lions sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth and scored six runs to seize a 7-5 lead. During the inning, Luci Ponce connected on her third homer of the doubleheader to score three runs.
"They've had those innings in the last three games," said Welborn." "We had to battle and we did."
Sirag led off the Greyhound fifth with a single to left field and moved into scoring position on a bunt from
Morgan Green. Marleyna Piñon delivered a two-out RBI double to cut ENMU's deficit in half. After Burke retired the Lions in order in the sixth inning, the Hounds went back to work at the plate.
Audrey Velasquez led off the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle and moved to second when a collision between Ponce and Burke on a tag attempt led to a Lion error. After a fielder's choice, Eastern had runners at first and third, with two outs. Faced with a 2-2 count, Sirag drove a two-run triple to the right-centerfield gap to give the Hounds an 8-7 lead. ""I just told myself to breath and have fun," Sirag said of her approach to Saturday's doubleheader. "I had been thinking too much, yesterday."
Sirag also had a hand in sealing the game. Hayley Colwell reached base as the tying run with a one-out double, but was caught stealing at third to end the game.
Eastern initially took the lead on a two-out, two-run single from Green in the first inning.
Kiana Zerr extended the lead with a solo shot in the second frame, while Sirag smashed a two-run homer in the third inning.
Sirag batted three-for-four from the plate and drove in four runs, while she scored two. Velasquez finished two-for-four. Burke (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits, while Anna Hitt (0-1) suffered the loss in 3.2 innings of work.
Game 1The Greyhounds also got off to a quick start in the opener and capitalized on three walks in the second inning. After one-out singles from Sirag and Piñon,
Mariah Rodriguez and
Simone Laurenz drew walks to force in the first run of the game and chase Lion starter Katie Dean from the game.
Natasha Kissell drew a walk from relief pitcher Selena Rima to force in a second run, before Velasquez hit a sacrifice fly to give ENMU a 3-0 lead.
Chandler bashed a homer to leadoff the Greyhound third inning, while Sirag followed with a one-out triple down the right field line. Sirag came home to give the Hounds a 5-0 lead on a ground ball from Piñon.
Texas A&M-Commerce got on the board with a three-run fourth inning, and exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth, to seize a9-6 advantage. Eastern got one run back in the bottom of the frame, as Chandler hit her second homer of the game. The Lions added five more runs in the seventh and held on for the win.
Chandler batted three-for-four with the first multi-homer game of her career. Sirag also hit three-for-four and scored twice. Rima earned the win for A&M-Commerce and allowed three runs over 5.2 innings of relief. Ponce hit three0-for-five with two homers and three RBIs.
