Wednesday, February 15, 2017
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team (5-9) successfully opened a week that will include five games against its cross-state NCAA Division II rivals. On Wednesday, the Greyhounds swept a doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands by 12-0 and 8-2 scores. Over the two contests, senior first baseman
Erikka Burke bashed her fourth and fifth homers of the season.
"Our bats were hot today and we knew that's what we would have to do, because they're a good hitting team," Head Coach Katie Welborn said. "Kaylee (Rogers) and Bird (Alyssa Lovato) did a phenomenal job today and every pinch hitter I put in had confidence. They looked like they were ten feet tall in the box. Burke stood out for us today. "
"I feel like I'm seeing the ball pretty big," Burke said. "I just try to stay as calm as possible and hit the ball hard."
The wins evened the overall series with the Cowgirls at 24-24, and snapped a three-game skid to NMHU. The Hounds also improved to 17-11 against Highlands at home. Third baseman
Kylee Keller extended her hitting streak to straight games and has reached base safely in all 14 contests.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will continue to face in state opposition, when they visit Western New Mexico this weekend, to open Lone Star Conference play. The three-game series will open with a Friday doubleheader at noon.
Game 1
Rogers tossed a dominant game in the opener, struck out four batters and faced just three batters over the minimum to earn her third win of the season. While she limited NMHU to one single over five innings, three Greyhounds had multiple hits, as the team finished with 12 total base hits.
After Rogers worked around a hit batsman in the first inning, Burke drove a two-run blast to centerfield in the bottom of the frame. ENMU tacked on a run on the second inning and plated three more in third inning highlighted by a RBI triple from Adriana Carbajal. Capitalized on three walks, one hit batsmen and two errors to plate six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Cameron Conrad had a two-run double in the inning, while
Christina Pease singled in a run. The contest ended after the top of the fifth inning, due to ENMU holding a lead in excess of eight runs.
Game 2
In the nightcap, the Cowgirls seized a 1-0 lead on Sami Kouns' RBI single in the top of the second innings, but Eastern quickly responded. After NMHU starter Desiree Bogarin retired the first five batters she faced, the Hounds worked some two-out magic in the bottom of the second. A pitch struck
Tiana Faagalulu and Conrad followed with a walk. After a passes ball moved the duo into scoring position, Conrad followed with a two-run single down the left field line to give Eastern the lead for good.
Eastern added a third run in the fourth on a
Courtney Vigil squeeze bunt, and five more over the fifth and sixth, which included a leadoff homer from Burke. The Cowgirls were able to score one more run on a sixth-inning homer from Katelyn Bates.
Vigil drove in three runs with a two-for-two performance, while Conrad also had a pair of RBIs. Lovato scattered four hits and fanned career-best seven batters to earn her second win of the season.
"I just try to stay within myself and keep a good attitude even when I get hit," Lovato said. "I just try to play for my team."
