Softball | 4/14/2016 3:03:00 PM

Thursday, April 14, 2016

PORTALES, N.M. — This weekend, the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (12-36; LSC 3-21) with a four-game Lone Star Conference series against Texas Woman's University (28-16; LSC 16-8). Shortstop Susannah Chandler enters the series with hits in four of her last five games and seven runs batted in over that span.

Eastern and Texas Woman's are tied for third in the conference with 12 triples. That total is just one away from the conference lead, which is tied between Cameron and Midwestern State. With a .963 fielding percentage, ENMU ranks third in the LSC. With Audrey Velasquez (5^th) and Kyra Sirag (10^th), the Hounds have a pair of hitters in the league's top ten in base hits. Chandler is tied for sixth, with 12 doubles, and tied for fourth in the conference with Sirag, with three triples.

Defensively, Erikka Burke (3^rd), Sirag, and Velasquez (10^th) all rank in the league's top-ten in fielding percentage. Chandler and Morgan Green are fourth and seventh in the LSC, respectively, in assists, while Burke is sixth in putouts.

Over the first 48 games of the season, Sirag has led Eastern with a .377 batting average. She also has a .555 slugging percentage, 30 runs scored, three stolen bases, and a .990 fielding percentage. Velasquez and Susannah Chandler are right behind at .361 and .356, respectively. Velasquez leads ENMU with 34 runs scored and five stolen bases.

ENMU Athletics
Greyhound Softball
Greyhound Roster
Greyhound Schedule
Greyhound Statistics

Following the Games
On Friday and Saturday, both doubleheaders will begin at 12 p.m. MT. Live statistics and video will be available at www.goeasternathletics.com.

Seniors
This weekend will mark the final home appearances for Morgan Green, Marleyna Piñon, Kyra Sirag, and Mariah Zerr. The quartet will be honored following Saturday's doubleheader.

In Recent Action
On Tuesday, the Greyhounds ended a five-game skid and split a doubleheader at Oklahoma Panhandle State. In the opener, Eastern rallied from a 7-3 deficit to post a 10-6 victory. Susannah Chandler batted three for five with two doubles and a career-high five runs batted in. Kiana Zerr went the distance in the circle and matched a career-best four strikeouts to earn the win. In the nightcap, Eastern rallied from a three-run deficit, but OPSU pulled away for the 13-5 victory.

Last weekend, Texas Woman's won three out of four meetings against Texas A&M-Kingsville. On Saturday, the Pioneers scored the final seven runs to win the finale, 13-12, after holding on for a 4-2 win in the third game. Earlier this week, TWU was ranked third in the initial NCAA South Central Region poll.

Around the Conference
Lone Star Conference
LSC Softball
LSC Softball Schedule
LSC Softball Statistics
LSC Softball Standings

The Lone Star Conference is led by second-ranked West Texas A&M, while Cameron is also receiving votes in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll. The league also has five teams in the initial NCAA South Central Region poll. WT also leads the poll, followed by Texas Woman's (3^rd), Texas A&M-Commerce (5^th), Cameron (6^th), and Angelo State (8^th).

The Lady Buffs own the league's longest current win streak at nine games, while Texas A&M-Kingsville's four-game skid is the longest in that category.

Against Texas Woman's University
TWU Athletics
Pioneer Softball
Pioneer Roster
Pioneer Schedule
Pioneer Statistics

The Greyhounds are 19-55 against Texas Woman's University and looking for their first win in the series since an 11-8 decision on March 18, 2011. At home, Eastern holds an 11-22 mark against the Pioneers, which includes a series sweep in the 2008 season.
 
Last season, Elizabeth Velasquez batted .556 against TWU, while Audrey Velasquez hit .500 with a double.
 
The first meeting between the teams occurred on March 19, 1997. Texas Woman's posted a 5-0 victory that day.

Up Next
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will conclude its season next weekend, with a four-game series at Tarleton State.