Softball | 2/20/2017 3:25:00 PM

Monday, February 20, 2017

PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team is coming off a standout performance at Western New Mexico and ready to open a five-game home stand on Tuesday. The Greyhounds will look to their explosive offense, which has scored at least eight runs in four of the last five games.

On Tuesday, Eastern will open the home stand with a doubleheader against Lubbock Christian at noon. The Hounds will play a noon doubleheader on Friday against Tarleton State. The Hounds will finish the series with the TexAnns with a single game at noon on Saturday. All five games will have live statistics at GoEasternAthletics.com, while Tuesday and Friday's action will also be streamed. Tuesday's stream will be courtesy of Lubbock Christian.

About Eastern New Mexico
Eastern New Mexico University
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The Greyhound softball team is coming off an extremely strong week, which culminated in the program's first five-game win streak since April 2007. The series win over Western New Mexico also was ENMU's first in LSC play since 2013 and first sweep since the 2006 season against West Texas A&M.

Freshman pitcher Kaylee Rogers was critical to the successful week, with a 3-0 record, one save and a 1.81 earned run average. First baseman Erikka Burke also was notable and became the first player since Kristen Cruickshank in 2009 to homer in three consecutive games.

After setting a team record for fielding percentage last year, the Hounds posted a .993 percentage last week and turned a number of crucial double plays. This week, the Hounds will host Lubbock Christian and Tarleton State.

ENMU Head Coach Katie Welborn is in her second season and has won 22 games. She is just two victories away from catching Ron Landschoot for sixth on the career win list.

In the Series with Lubbock Christian
Lubbock Christian University
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Eastern is looking for its first win over perennial NCAA Division II and former NAIA powerhouse Lubbock Christian.
 
Last season, the teams met five times, which included home and home double headers and a neutral contest in Grand Prairie. In Lubbock, the teams had a high scoring game, which the Lady Chaps claimed by an 18-13 score.
 
About Lubbock Christian
The Lady Chaps are having a strong season, and boast a 14-2 record, with a 2-1 mark against teams from the LSC. Tuesday's doubleheader will be LCU's first road games of the season, although they are 8-2 in neutral-site games.

Last year, the Lady Chaps finished with a 45-15 record and reached the NCAA Division II South Central Region tournament.

In the Series with Tarleton State
The Greyhounds are 14-61 against Tarleton State, with a 10-23 record at home.
 
Last season, the Hounds snapped a 12-game skid in the series with their first win over the TexAnns since the 2013 season. ENMU charged to a 5-0 lead and escaped with a 9-7 victory, after a seventh inning, which saw Tarleton State put the game-tying run on base. Kiana Zerr picked up the win in the circle, while Katie Ripple homered, drove in two runs and scored three for ENMU.
 
About Tarleton State
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The TexAnns will visit Texas A&M-International prior to the series against the Hounds. Tarleton State currently has an 8-6 record with a 1-2 mark in LSC play. Last season, Tarleton State finished with a 29-26 record and 12-20 in league play.

Up Next
Next week, the Eastern New Mexico University softball team will open a five-game road swing with a Tuesday doubleheader at New Mexico Highlands. A three-game LSC series at Midwestern State will follow.