Tuesday, February 20, 2018
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team (10-5) had to wait an extra week to play under the lights for the first time on their home field, but they flipped another switch during Tuesday's doubleheader. Limited to just one hit and trailing 5-0 after three innings in the opener against New Mexico Highlands (2-5), the Hounds exploded for seven runs on seven hits, to win a 7-6 decision on
Ashley Lopez's two-out walk-off homer in the seventh. Eastern completed the sweep at Greyhound Softball Field with an 8-2 win.
"The second game was a lot more fun to watch," said Head Coach
Katie Welborn. "The only two things I loved about the first game was my girl's tenacity and AC's (
Ashley Lopez) walk-off home run. I was so proud they came back strong and really showed up for game two. I believe we had five homeruns, from multiple people. When that happens, teams will have a hard time beating us.
Kiana Zerr had a great game tonight! one earned run over six innings, that's how a senior shows up. I'm very, very proud of my girls. Ready and excited to go play a good team this weekend and show up there too."
In the Series
- The win was ENMU's sixth straight in the series and improved the Hounds to 28-24 against NMHU
- Eastern is 19-11 at home against Highlands
- ENMU has now won 12 straight games against NCAA Division II opponents from the state of New Mexico
The Long Ball
- The Hounds have homered seven times over their last four games and have a total of 18 in 15 games
- With her 28th homer, Erikka Burke trails Kristen Cruickshank for second on the ENMU list by just one blast
- Burke leads ENMU with six homers this season, while Lopez has five
- Eight players have hit at least one homerun
Game 1
- NMHU capitalized on four Greyhound errors over the first three innings to plate three unearned runs and seize a 5-0 lead
- Elena Garcia's two-out, two-run single in the fourth pulled the Hounds within three runs
- Each team capitalized on an error in the fifth to score unearned runs, as NMHU led 6-3
- After a leadoff walk to Jennifer McElroy in the sixth inning, Elena Garcia belted a two-run homer to pull ENMU within a single run
- In the top of the seventh, NMHU threatened to pull away by loading the bases with no outs after two singles sandwiched around a hit batsman
- Leah Osborn hit a ground ball to third, with Garcia throwing home for the first out
- Relief pitcher Hanna Gary caught a pop up and induced a fly ball to Burke at first base to escape the jam
- Elyssa Rodriguez doubled with one out to represent the game-tying run in the bottom of the inning
- With a 1-0 count and two outs, Lopez smashed a two-run walk-off homer to centerfield
- Garcia finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBIs
- Gary scattered five hits over five innings to pick up the win
Game 2
- NMHU capitalized on a Greyhound error to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning
- ENMU responded with a two-run homer from Jennifer McElroy in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good
- Burke drove in a run in the third inning and scored on a wild pitch
- Hanna Gary's two-run homer in the fourth inning gave ENMU a 6-1 advantage
- After a leadoff single and stolen base, Garcia scored on Hanna Gary's sacrifice fly in the fifth
- Burke's solo homer in the sixth inning punctuated the Greyhounds' scoring
- Kiana Zerr earned the win with one earned run allowed over five innings
- Parker Smith batted 2-for-2 with a double
Up Next
- The Greyhounds' series at Tarleton State has been altered to a Sunday doubleheader at 3 p.m. MT, followed by a final game on Monday at 11 a.m., due to weather concerns
