Monday, February 26, 2018
STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS — Senior first baseman
Erikka Burke became the second Eastern New Mexico University softball player to hit 30 homeruns in a career. Her fifth-inning blast at Tarleton State (15-3; LSC 3-3) snapped a tie with Kristen Cruickshank for second on the ENMU all-time list. The Greyhounds (10-8; LSC 3-3) dropped a 7-3 decision in the opening game of Monday's doubleheader at TSU Softball Complex and were edged 5-2 in the series finale.
The Long Ball
- Over 18 games, Eastern has 20 homeruns this season
- Burke has eight for the season and trails only Rachel Mohler (33) on the career list
Game 1
- Precious Aguirre walked to lead off the opener and moved to second when Burke was hit by a pitch
- After a passed ball, Karina Moreno delivered a two-out, two-run single to give Eastern a 2-0 lead
- The TexAnns responded with Megan Duarte's three-run homer in the bottom of the first
- After TSU pushed the lead to 6-2, Eastern added a third run when Ashley Lopez was struck by a pitch with the bases loaded
- Tarleton State added one more run in the sixth inning
- Aguirre, Burke and Kamalani Peneku all singled for the Hounds
- Hanna Gary limited the TexAnns to one run on four hits over three innings of relief
- Jordan Withrow went the distance for Tarleton State
Game 2
- The Greyhounds loaded the bases in the first inning of the nightcap but were unable to push a run across
- Tarleton State seized a 5-0 lead over the first three innings
- The Hounds got on the board with Burke's two-run blast in the fifth inning
- Moreno and Peneku both singled in the game
- Gary blanked Tarleton State on two hits over the final 3.2 innings
- Withrow allowed three hits to earn the win for the TexAnns
Up Next
- The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will return home on Friday to open a Lone Star Conference series against Midwestern State
- Friday's doubleheader will start at 5 p.m. MT