Friday, February 10, 2017
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team (3-6) exploded for 22 runs on 24 hits to sweep of pair of game, Friday at the North Texas Softball Bash, at Jennifer McFalls Park. The Greyhounds opened with a 10-1 win over Regis University (4-3) and followed with a 12-2 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State (2-6).
Erikka Burke batted .714 over the two games with two homers, two doubles, and five runs batted in.
Eastern improved to 2-1 against Regis, and 1-0 against Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Hounds have also scored at least eight runs over their last four games and are batting .390 over that span.
Against Regis
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead with a double-steal attempt in the top of the first inning, but the Hounds batted around in the bottom of the inning to seize a 4-1 lead that wouldn't relinquish. ENMU's lone hit in the inning was a RBI single from
Kylee Keller, but the Hounds took advantage of two hit batsmen, two walks and a RU error.
Eastern added three runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth to end the game on the eight-run rule.
Kaylee Rogers held Regis' bats in check and allowed just four singles over a complete-game effort.
Susannah Chandler smashed her fourth homer of the season, while Burke had her second.
Against Northwestern Oklahoma
Alyssa Lovato tossed a seven-hitter against the Rangers and worked around a pair of hit batsmen in the first inning. Eastern struck first in what started as a pitcher's duel, when Elyssa Rodriguez drew a walk to lead off the Greyhound third, and stole second and third base. She scored the game's first run when left fielder Madison McGraw made a running catch of a deep fly ball off the bat of Kalamani Peneku, one out into the inning.
NWOSU capitalized on a passed ball, wild pitch and a steal of home by Brittany Corrales in the bottom of the inning. The Rangers left the go-ahead run stranded at third, when Lovato fanned McGraw to end the inning. Eastern broke the game open in the top of the fourth, and sent eight batters to the plate, to seize a 4-1 lead. Rodriguez hit a go-ahead RBI single and Burke followed with a two-run double. The Hounds continued to explode offensively, and held a 12-2 lead when the Rangers stepped to the plate for their final at bat.
Lovato fanned a career-best six batters en-route to her first victory of the season. Burke batted three-for five and just missed the cycle by a triple. Peneku drove in three runs, while
Courtney Vigil batted two-for-three.
Up Next
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will continue play in the North Texas Softball Bash tomorrow morning. The Hounds will open against Oklahoma Panhandle at 10 a.m. MST. A contest against Oklahoma Christian will follow at 12:30 p.m.
