PORTALES, NM - Eastern New Mexico softball will return to Lubbock, TX for two days of double-headers before a weekend off in preparation for it's first home series.
The Hounds will complete against Lone Star teams starting with Tarleton State and Lubbock Christian on Saturday, Feb. 22. Softball will then return to the field for a morning game against UT Permian Basin and an afternoon match up vs West Texas A&M.
SO FAR THIS SEASON
In their first contest of 2020 the Hounds took a 2-1 win over New Mexico Highlands. The second game of the scheduled double-header was called before the fifth inning due to a lack of sunlight. The following weekend, the Greyhounds took a 8-4 loss to Nebraska-Kearney to start out Lubbock, TX Tournament play. Returning the same day for another contest the Hounds took CSU-Pueblo into eight innings where they came out on top after scoring three runs in the eighth.
The Hounds continued tournament play traveling to Tucson, Arizona for the Cactus Classic where they finished 3-3 after taking two wins on the first day, including a 7-5 victory over Colorado Mesa University. The Greyhounds fell in eight innings to the University of Hawaii at Hilo on Saturday and were unable to create a comeback recording another Saturday loss against the Lindenwood Lions.Returning to the field for the final day of competition, the Greyhounds allowed a run from Cal U (PA) in the first inning. Both teams went scoreless until the sixth where Greyhound
Parker Smith tied up the contest. The Hounds took over the seventh inning scoring five runs for a 5-2 win.
BREAKING IN LEGER
Freshman pitcher
Brook Leger is currently 3-1 after pitching 22.0 innings so far this season. Leger pitched all eight innings in the Greyhounds 7-5 win over Colorado Mesa last weekend. The freshman recorded a season high 11 strikeouts, one double, and one home run against the Mavricks. Leger has recorded an earned-run-average of 3.50.
THE KEYS TO SUCCESS
Eastern New Mexico has gotten their 2020 campaign off to a much-improved start thanks in large part to a revitalized pitching staff led by Leger. The Hounds are 4-1 so far this season when allowing five or less runs and have capitalized on their chances on the base paths. The Greyhounds have been out-hit by opponents in seven games so far this year, but still maintain a record of .500 or better for the year.
Junior
Andrea Cline leads the team with eight RBI's on the year and has continued to provide a reliable bat in the heart of the batting order for coach Zeiter. Cline and senior
Elysa Rodriguez, who leads the team with a .387 batting average and nine runs on the year, have been top offensive producers in the LSC this season.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Tarleton State has played in three tournaments this season, going 11-3 overall. TSU's Jordan Withrow has a 6-2 record and an ERA of 1.81 after pitching 46.1 innings so far this season. The senior from Trenton, TX is a powerhouse in the circle only giving up four doubles and two triples out of 167 at-bats.
Lubbock Christian is off to a great start with a record of 12-2 after competing in three tournaments to start off the 2020 season. WIth a batting average of .370 Savannah Wysocki is leading the Chaps with 17 runs and 17 hits so far this season. The sophomore out-fielder has started in all fourteen games for LCU and is averaging an on-base percentage of .453.
West Texas A&M made a run to the 2019 NCAA South Central Regionals after taking a loss in the quarterfinals of the LSC championships last year. The Buffs have started out the 2020 season 7-6 overall after competing in two tournaments this year. Kyra Lair leads the LSC in the most innings pitched, recording 72.0 innings.
The Falcons finished the Cactus Classic with a 6-4 win over Hawaii At Hilo, bringing their overall record to 8-7. UTPB has recorded 13 stolen bases this season and are averaging a team batting percentage of .293. Appearing in all fourteen games and stepping up to bat 33 times, Aracely Araiza leads the Falcons with a batting average of .424.
