Saturday, February 03, 2018
Las VEGAS, NEV —Senior first baseman
Erikka Burke cracked a two-run blast in the Eastern New Mexico University softball team's (1-3) first win of the season, an 8-5 decision over California State-Monterey Bay (2-1). The Hounds split two games at the Desert Stinger Tournament at Majestic Park on Saturday, and started the day with a 6-5 setback against University of Hawaii-Hilo (2-0).
Going the Distance
- Burke's homerun was the 20th of her career
- Only three other players have reached that plateau
- Maegan Rhoten (21, 2001-04)
- Kristen Cruickshank (29, 2007-10)
- Rachel Mohler (33, 1999-02)
Inside the Series
- The contest was Eastern's first against Cal-State Monterey Bay
- The Hounds fell to 0-3 against Hawaii-Hilo
Against Hawaii-Hilo
- In the first game of the day, the teams exchanged big hits in each of the first two innings
- The Vulcan's Isabelle Meija cracked a three-run blast in the top of the first inning
- Ashley Lopez followed with a game-tying three run shot in the bottom of the innings
- UHH scored to take a 4-3 lead in the second inning
- Elena Garcia led off the Greyhound fifth with a double and tied the game on a single from Burke
- The Vulcans capitalized on a walk and error to seize a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth
- Burke led off the ENMU seventh with a double and the Hounds pulled within one run
- Mariss Kawano paced UHH with a four-for-four performance
Against Cal-State Monterey Bay
- Courtney Hennings two-run double staked the Otters to a lead in the first inning
- Ashely Lopez, Burke and Elysa Rodriguez each belted two-run homers to stake ENMU to a 6-2 advantage
- Burke and Rodriguez's round-trippers came in a four-run third inning
- Cal State-Monterey scored three runs on two homers of their own in the fifth, to close within 6-5
- Eastern capitalized on an error and added two insurance runs in the sixth
- Hanan Gary went the distance for ENMU and scattered nine hits with three strikeouts
- Rodriguez batted two-for-three
Up Next
- The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will conclude play at the Desert Stinger tomorrow against San Francisco State
- The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. MT
