PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico softball dropped a pair of games to #9 Texas A&M-Kingsville, 10-0 (5 Inn.) and 13-2 (6 Inn.), on Friday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. The Greyhounds slip to 8-16 on the year, with a 1-9 conference standing. The Javelinas improve to 24-3, with an 8-2 LSC record.

GAME ONE: TAMUK 10, ENMU 0 (5 INN.)

The visitors jumped on the scoreboard right away, combining two singles to set up a three-run homerun as TAMUK took a 3-0 lead. The bats continued to connect for Texas A&M-Kingsville. First, a bases loaded single scored two runs, making the score 5-0. Then, the Javelinas played long ball again to push the score to 8-0 after two innings of play.
 
Eastern struggled to get past the TAMUK pitching staff, as the Javelinas currently hold the lowest ERA in the Lone Star Conference. The Greyhounds were held hitless in the first three frames of action. Meanwhile, TAMUK picked up two more runs in the fourth inning, taking the score to 10-0.
 
Azalea Martinez broke up the no hit bid in the fourth inning, with a single up the middle. Martinez reach second base after swiping the bag, but Eastern couldn't push the runner home. A scoreless fifth inning ended the game with a 10-0 score line for the Javelinas.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Hounds were held to one hit, a Martinez single, while the Javelinas recorded nine putouts in the field.
• Brook Leger takes the loss with eight runs allowed in two innings, with three strikeouts. Jennifer Gress and Jordan Bowman each saw action in the circle for ENMU, with Gress tossing 1.1 inning (three runs allowed) and Bowman threw 1.2 scoreless inning.
• Beth Montes picked up the win for the Javelinas allowing one hit in five innings.

GAME TWO: TAMUK 13, ENMU 2 (6 Inn.)

The runs flew on the board for both teams at the start of game two. The Javelinas posted eight runs in the first frame, including a 3-run homerun and solo homerun. However, the Hounds pulled two runs back in the bottom of the first inning. Mikenzey Patterson lead off for the Greyhounds with a triple to right center field, then Jokaira Paredes forced the run home on a groundout. Lisette Urquidez then hit a blast to dead center field striking the top of the flagpole in the outfield, 8-2 TAMUK.
 
The hitters cooled down for both teams over the next four innings, Urquidez on was catching the zone on the mound recording five strikeouts over 5.1 innings pitched. For the Javelinas, Carissa De Los Santos tossed a five scoreless innings after the initial two runs from the Greyhounds.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville piled on five more runs before the contest ended. With two outs, the Javelinas sprayed seven hits two score five runs in the top of the sixth. The Javelinas finished the game in six innings by a score of 13-2.

NOTABLE STATS

• Four different Greyhounds collected base hits during the game: Patterson, Paredes, Urquidez, and Alanna Larkins.
• Maite Bustillos is dealt the defeat after 0.1 innings pitched, allowing five runs (four earned runs). Taylor Harrison faced four batters, while Urquidez finished with 5.1 innings pitched. Gress threw a third of an inning before the game ended.
• De Los Santos collests their fifth win of the season, surrendering two runs from four hits.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• This was the first time the teams play against each other in Portales since 2018, when the teams meet for a three-game series.
• The Hounds look to bounce back on Sunday, Mar. 20, with Texas A&M-International making the trip to Eastern. Game one is scheduled for 11 am and the second game will commence at approximately 1 pm.