PORTALES, N.M. – The Eastern New Mexico softball team kicked off the final series of the 2019 season with 5-1 and 1-0 losses at the hands of Midwestern State on Friday afternoon.

Senior Hanna Gary tossed 7.2 innings while surrendering just three hits in the second game of the afternoon that saw the Greyhounds push the game into extra innings before losing in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Gary struck out three batters and surrendered just two walks over the course of the outing, but couldn't receive the necessary offensive output needed to secure the win.

Eastern New Mexico's offense struggled in game one as well as the Greyhounds (12-29, 8-21 LSC) recorded just three hits for the game, two of which came in the top half of the seventh inning. Trailing 5-0 entering that final frame, senior Emma Gary got the comeback bid started with a leadoff double to left field. Hanna Gary moved her twin sister around to third with a pinch-hit single in the ensuing at-bat, setting the stage for senior Lauren Likes to drive home Emma Gary from third base with a sacrifice fly.

The Greyhounds were unable to mount anymore offense in the inning and took the 5-1 loss at the hands of the Mustangs (21-19, 12-17 LSC) in game one.

Gary got her outstanding effort started in the bottom of the first during which time she faced runners on second and third with just one out, but retired the next two batters to escape the inning without conceding a run. The senior from Peoria, Ariz. retired the side in order in each of the next three innings and answered a lead-off walk for Midwestern State with three straight outs in the fifth to keep the score at 0-0.

She continued to roll in the sixth and seventh inning, but found trouble in the eighth as a single to the shortstop with two outs for the Mustangs ended the heroic effort for Gary. That runner advanced on by way of a walk and advanced around to third by way of a sac bunt and a wild pitch to set up the walk-off win for Midwestern.

Junior Elysa Rodriguez and sophomore Parker Smith were the only two Greyhounds to record hits in game number two while McElroy added a double to the Gary hits in game number one to round out the offense for Eastern on the day.

The Hounds will take on Midwestern State tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. MST in a single game to finish off the 2019 season.