PORTALES, NM — Facing a 2-2 count, freshman
Elena Garcia delivered a walk-off single to lift the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (18-27; LSC 9-16) to a 12-11 win in an 11-inning Lone Star Conference game at Greyhound Softball Field. Garcia hit 4-for-6 with two homers and drove in five runs to lift the Hounds to victory in their series opener against Texas A&M-Kingsville (22-21; LSC 9-13).
The win was ENMU's ninth at home, the most home victories since the 2013 season.
"What a game. It was a scrappy game, it was a team effort game, and it most definitely was exciting!" Head Coach
Katie Welborn said. "
Precious Aguirre was a spark plug for us the entire game. When she was on, she scored, that's huge. Two freshman stepped up huge, Jenny with the grand slam! Come on, that was great!
Elena Garcia had a heck of a day today. Her homerun May be the farthest of the year. What a shot. We wouldn't have won today had it not been for each player. They were in at are ready for tomorrow. Kingsville is a scrappy team, but we are hungry. We will stay hungry, and hopefully pull a few more out. It's our senior weekend, we will send them off in fashion."
In the Series
- The win snapped a 12-game skid in the series for the Hounds
- ENMU's last win over the Javelinas was a 9-8 decision on April 26, 2014, which came on a walk-off from Shelby Ripple
The Long Ball
- ENMU has 46 homeruns for the season, just 11 shy of the team record set in 2006
- With two homers, Garcia joins fellow freshman Jennifer McElroy as the only other player to have a multi-homer game this season
- McElroy's second-inning grand slam was Eastern's second of the season, with the other by Samantha Brockman against Texas Woman's
About the Game
- After a one-hour weather delay, the Hounds had their first extra-inning game of the season
- Texas A&M-Kingsville got off to a quick start and sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning to score two runs
- Starting pitcher Leslie Reyes fanned two batters around a walk to Hayley Boyett to escape a bases-loaded jam
- ENMU also got off to a quick start with Garcia driving in two runs on a single through the right side, before McElroy scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch
- Eastern batted around in the second and seized a 7-2 lead on McElroy's grand slam, which was followed by a two-out, solo blast from Garcia
- The Javelinas closed within 8-6, before Garcia had her second two-out homer, in the fourth inning to give the Hounds a three-run lead
- Texas A&M-Kingsville plated three runs in the sixth and staged a two-out rally in the seventh to seize a 10-9 lead when Rachel Longoria stole home after a bunt from Boyett
- ENMU capitalized on two errors in the bottom of the inning to pull even
- Kiana Zerr came on for the Hounds in the bottom of the sixth inning and allowed just two runs on six hits over six innings with five strikeouts and no walks
- The Javelinas had second a third with no outs in the top of the 11th inning, but a diving stop from second baseman Karina Moreno held the runners
- Texas A&M-Kingsville took an 11-10 lead on Lauren Oatman's sacrifice fly
- After a walk and hit batsmen, McElroy singled to tie the game with her fifth RBI of the game
- Ashley Lopez followed with a single to load the bases and Garcia came up with her clutch wal-off hit
- Eastern matched a season-high with 16 hits, for the same total as the Javelinas
- Brockman batted 5-for-6 with a double and tossed out a potential base stealer in the eighth inning
- Precious Aguirre hit 2-for-3, scored four runs and walked three times
- Breanna Smith tossed 5.1 innings for the Javelinas
Up Next
- The teams will conclude the series with a Saturday doubleheader at 12 p.m.
- ENMU Fans should "Pack the Fence" and enjoy the game and tailgating for the outfield fence area
- The Hounds will honor their six seniors following the second game
