PORTALES, NM - Eastern New Mexico softball will welcome West Texas A&M to the Greyhound field before heading out on the road. 

LAST WEEK
The Hounds opened up conference play in the first home series of the 2020 season first with a Friday double-header against UT Permian Basin. Falling behind in the first four innings of game one, the Hounds went to work in the six scoring three runs tying up the contest 5-5 after a home run from Jennifer McElroy. Allowing two runs in the seventh the Greyhounds needed a comeback. A home run from Elysa Rodriguez sent two home tying the game 7-7. Jennifer McElroy stepped back up to the bat and hit another home run as the Hounds took the first game. The Greyhounds saw five scoreless innings in the second game against the Falcons, as UTPB was able to capture a win over the Hounds. 

Returning to the field for the second double-header of the weekend, ENMU welcomed Western New Mexico to the field. Once again the Hounds had fallen behind but were able to score five runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Tying up the contest, the Mustangs put a strain on the Hounds and took the contest into eight innings. Bottom of the eighth, Iliana Mendoza caught home plate off a Mustang error as the Hounds took the first win of the double-header series. Pumped up for game two, the Greyhounds scored three runs in the first inning, thanks to a home run from Jennifer McElroy and Andrea Cline. The Greyhounds continued to make plays sealing in a double-header win at home. 

RANKED BATTING AVERAGE
Eastern New Mexico is ranked fifth in the Lone Star Conference posting a team batting average of .305. The Hounds have recorded 469 at-bats this season with 143 hits and 98 runs. 

Leading the Hounds is none other than senior Elysa Rodriguez. Rodriguez has started in all 17 games for the Hounds and is currently leading the team in batting average (.383), on-base percentage (.456), hits (23), and runs (16). Rodriguez continued on the Greyhound home run trend hitting her first of the season last weekend against UT Permian Basin.

SIX HOME RUNS AND COUNTING 
Jennifer McElroy had an impeccable performance last weekend against UT Permian Basin. The junior helped the hounds to a 9 to 7 victory in the first game of the double header after hitting two home runs in consecutive at bats.

McElroy homered to center field in the sixth inning sending herself and Hound Jokaria Paredes around the bases tying up the contest. Back up to bat in theseventh, McElroy hit another, this time off to left field, with Paredes on base,securing the Greyhounds 9-7 win over the Falcons. McElroy currently leads the Greyhounds with six home runs after hitting another the following day against Western New Mexico. During her sophomore campaign, McElroy ended the 2019 season leading the Greyhounds with ten doubles and five home runs.

PITCHING DUO 
Two freshman pitchers are leading the squad from circle posting the lowest ERA of the five Greyhound pitchers this season. Jordan Bowman has pitched 32.2 inning this season with an ERA of 3.62 and ten strikeouts. The left-handed freshman saw one of her best games of the season in a win against Cal U, pitching four innings and  only allowing one run in six hits. This past weekend, Bowman started in the circle for game one against Western New Mexico where she allowed four runs and six hits.

Along with Bowman is Brooke Leger, another freshman pitcher for the Hounds. Leger saw her best performance of the season in a 7-5 win over Colorado Mesa where Leger pitched all eight innings recording 11 strikeouts, five runs while only allowing one double. Leger took to the circle for two innings against Western New Mexico last weekend where she struck out three out of nine batters. 


SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Sitting second in the standings, West Texas A&M is currently 14-7 overall, 4-0 in conference. The Buffs started out conference play with double-header wins against Western New Mexico and UT Permian Basin. Falling behind 4-2 heading into the sixth, the Buffs scored four runs for a 6-4 win over the Mustangs. West Texas returned to the field and took a 14-2 second game win over Western New Mexico. 

West Texas A&M's Alex Cordell leads the Buffs with batting average of .414 playing in all 21 games this season. The senior has gone up to bat 58 times, recording 24 hits, and scoring 21 runs. Cordell's six home runs is second on the team after sophomore Ruby Salzman homered twice last weekend bumping her up to first among the Buffs with seven total home runs for the season. Sophomore Kyra Lair has pitched 75 innings in 14 games posting a W-L record of 8-4. Lair has pitched six or more innings in eight contests including full seven inning games four times this season. Earlier this season at MSU Billings, in only 3.1 innings pitched, Lair recorded seven strike outs. More recently in the circle, Emilee Wilson pitched all seven innings against Western New Mexico in game one where the sophomore struck out nine batters.