Friday, March 04, 2016
SAN ANGELO, TEXAS — Junior infielder Erikka Burke registered three hits, three runs batted in, and tossed 1.2 scoreless innings for the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (8-14; LSC 1-5) in Friday's Lone Star Conference doubleheader. Angelo State (17-4; LSC 6-0) rallied to claim a 7-4 win over the Hounds in the opener, before earning an 11-1 decision in the nightcap.
The Rambelles receives votes in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association national poll, and improved to 8-0 at Mayer Field, this season. Audrey Velasquez registered hits in both games and has hit safely in nine of her last 10 games.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will conclude its series at Angelo State with a doubleheader on Saturday. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT.
Game 1
The Greyhounds quickly got on track offensively in the opener and had their leadoff batter reach safely in each of the first five innings. Burke started the ENMU third inning with a bunt single and advanced on base hits from Susannah Chandler and Morgan Green. With one out, Burke scored the first run of the game on a ground ball off the bat of Marleyna Piñon. The Rambelles pulled even in the bottom of the inning on a one-out RBI single from Ambra Hill and took a 3-1 lead on a two-run double from Madison Greenwell.
Eastern immediately responded with three runs of their own in the top of the fourth. Natasha Kissell led off with an infield single and took second base when first baseman Alexis Evans made an errant throw after Kiana Zerr's sacrifice bunt. Velasquez drove a RBI double down the left field line to halve the Greyhound deficit and Burke followed with a two-run single to give ENMU a 4-3 advantage. ASU rallied to take a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the inning and tacked on a seventh run in the sixth.
The Hounds held an 11-7 edge in overall hits. Velasquez registered a season-high three base hits, scored, and drove in a run. Chandler, Burke, and Kissell each had a pair of hits. Zerr scattered seven hits and walked one batter. ENMU had 11 hits against Angelo State starter Kenedy Urbany (9-2).
Game 2
In the nightcap, Burke tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief against the Rambelles, allowed one hit, and drove in the Greyhound's lone run in the fifth inning. Mariah Rodriguez had two of Eastern's four hits in the game.
Angelo State plated six runs in the bottom of the first inning, and two in the second. The Rambelles scored their final three runs in the third. Rodriguez singled to lead off the ENMU fifth, and scored on a two-out hit from Burke,
