Friday, February 24, 2017

PORTALES, NM — Susannah Chandler and Christina Pease combined for five hits over two games on Friday afternoon for the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (9-12; LSC 4-1). The Greyhounds rallied for a 7-6 extra-inning win over Tarleton State (10-8; LSC 2-3) in the opener, but the TexAnns posted a 17-1 victory in the nightcap.

The teams will conclude the series at noon tomorrow, with a single game. The win marked ENMU's first home victory over Tarleton State since April 5, 2013.

"I was proud of our efforts in the first game," said Head Coach Katie Welborn. "We knew we were facing some good pitching and would have to be tough through adversity. The girls handled that well. It's also nice to have big hitters throughout the lineup. Two freshman came up with clutch hits: (Samantha) Brockman and (Adriana) Carabajal, and Erikka (Burke) showed up when she needed to again. I'm proud of how that first game went."

Game 1
The opener was almost two separate games. Over the first two innings, the TexAnns plated six runs on six hits. Freshman pitcher Kaylee Rogers blanked Tarleton State on six hits over the final six innings.

After giving up two runs in the top of the first, the Hounds capitalized on a pair of errors and a walk, when Samantha Brockman drove the first offering from pitcher Hayley Freyman up the middle to score two runs. The TexAnns capped a four-run rally with a three-run blast from catcher Nyka Wood in the second frame.

Eastern exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth and tied the game after sending all nine batters to the plate. Erikka Burke cleared the bases with a three-run double into the left centerfield gap, while Brockman delivered a clutch two-out RBI single to tie the game.

The TexAnns had runners at first and second base in the top of the eighth, and appeared poised to take the lead when Meghann Wrinkle pushed a bunt single between third base and short. When Chandler dove to corral the ball from her shortstop position, pinch runner Kaitlyn Thomas attempted to take advantage and score from second base. Chandler tossed the ball to Brockman for the out, as the game remained tied. Rogers worked around an infield single from Maddie Quintanar, and fanned Avery Mullendore to escape a bases-loaded jam.

After Audrey Velasquez led off the ENMU eighth with a single and took second on a wild pitch, TexAnn relief pitcher Jordan Winthrow intentionally walked Burke. After a single by Chandler loaded the bases, Adriana Carabajal drove the game-winning hit up the middle to score Velasquez.

Rogers picked up her sixth win of the season after fanning four batters, and moved to 3-0 in conference play. The Hounds batted three-for-four with the bases loaded in the game. Burke and Brockman both drove in three runs, with two hits each. Pease batted two-for-four in the game.

Game 2
The Hounds trailed 1-0 in the nightcap, when Burke drew a walk, and scored on Chandler's double to right field. The TexAnns responded with 16 runs over the next four innings, and the game ended after ENMU batted in the bottom of the fifth.

Chandler batted two-for-two in the game, while Burke, Pease, and Katie Ripple drew walks. Kayleigh Williams went the distance for Tarleton State and struck out six.

"Some adjustments need to be made before tomorrow," said Welborn. "But we know what we will see and are expecting to pull another one out."