PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico softball posted a split on Sunday against Midwestern State University, winning in game one 8-7 and falling 11-1 (5 Inn) in game two at Greyhound Softball Field. The Hounds move to 13-27 on the season with a 6-18 conference record. Meanwhile, the Mustangs move to 7-32 on the season, along with a 6-18 conference standing.  

GAME ONE: ENMU 8, MSU 7

Azalea Martinez got the Hounds on the board in the first inning with a two-run line drive homerun to left field for an early 2-0 lead. However, Midwestern State responded quickly after going behind. After drawing two walks, a double scored the first run for MSU to cut the lead in half, 2-1 ENMU. The next batter put a ball over the left field fence for a with two runners on, as the Mustangs jumped out to a 4-2 lead after the second inning.
 
The Greyhounds chipped away at the MSU lead in the fourth inning. Clarissa Marrujo started the inning with a single, and eventually found themselves on third after a throwing error from the MSU defense. Mackenzie Shaw pushed the run home with an RBI groundout, to make the score 4-3 MSU after four innings.
 
Eastern produced timely hitting in the fifth frame. After Martinez walked, Maite Bustillos bunted for a single to get two runners on base. After a sacrifice bunt and a walk, Marrujo delivered the game tying run after reaching on a hit by pitch, 4-4. Then, Kianna Galindo stepped to the plate drove a ball to the opposite field that carried over the fence for a grand slam to take the lead, 8-4. In the fifth, Eastern scored five runs from two hits, two walks, and a hit by pitch.
 
Midwestern looked to get back in the game in the next inning, with back to back two out hits. First, a triple with a runner on first made the score 8-5, then a single made the score 8-6. After the sixth run scored, Jordan Bowman entered the circle and induced a flyout to end the inning.
 
Heading to the seventh inning, a leadoff homerun reduced the Hounds lead to just one, 8-7. After that, the Hounds picked up two outs, including a diving play from Jokaira Paredes in left field to prevent a base hit. The Mustangs made things difficult with two singles and a walk to load the bases with the tying run at third base. With the bases loaded and full count, Maddie Holder of Midwestern drilled a ball up the middle that was caught by Bowman to end the game 8-7 for Eastern. Had Bowman not made the play, a run would have sent the game to extra innings.

NOTABLE STATS

• Despite only producing four hits, Eastern scored eight runs in the game with seven RBIs.
• Martinez, Bustillos, Marrujo, and Galindo all provided base hits, with Martinez and Galindo posting homeruns.
• Galindo racked up four RBIs, Martinez collected two RBIs, and Marrujo finished with one RBI.
• Jennifer Gress gets the win in relief for ENMU, throwing 4.2 innings and giving up two runs on four hits. Lisette Urquidez tossed one inning in the game, allowing four runs on four hits. Bowman picks up the save giving up one run with three hits allowed.
• Malea Rodriguez is handed the loss, allowing just four hits and eight runs in the game. Kathryn Wells tossed 1.2 innings, going hitless in that time.

GAME TWO: MSU 11, ENMU 1 (5 INN.)

The Mustangs started quickly in the first inning, tacking on four runs in the opening frame. An RBI single scored the games first run then a three-run homer added to Mustangs lead. MSU played long ball again in the third inning (a solo homerun) to go up 5-0. Later in the inning, a groundout brought the sixth run across for the Mustangs.
 
Eastern pulled a run back in the third inning, as Urquidez crushed a solo homerun over the center field fence to take the score to 6-1. In the fourth, Midwestern added two more runs after an RBI single brought both runs to the plate, 8-1.
 
In the fifth inning, MSU posted a two-run homer and an RBI single to hold a 11-1 advantage. Eastern were retired in the fifth inning and MSU took game two by a score of 11-1 after five innings.  

NOTABLE STATS

• ENMU scattered four hits during the game, Sierra Wooley finished 2-2 at the plate with a walk, with Martinez and Urquidez holding the other hits.
• Taylor Harrison receives the loss, giving up six runs on six hits in 2.1 innings. Gress tossed 1.2 innings allowing two runs, while Urquidez gave up three runs in one inning of action.
• Kennedy Cameron picked up the win in the circle for MSU, tossing a complete game with just one run allowed.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Today was a good series against MSU," said Head Softball Coach Amanda Fefel. "They applied a lot of pressure on us at the end of the game, but defensively we were able to get out of a bases loaded jam that ended the game. I am proud of how the team stuck in throughout seven innings and never wavered" said Fefel. "This series was definitely a back and forth affair. Again, Azalea (Martinez) and Sierra (Wooley) saw the ball well at the plate, and Alanna Larkins was a threat on the bases to get in scoring position" said Fefel. "A 3-1 weekend is always good to take". 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Game ones win over the Mustangs was the first since 2018, in a 11-7 victory.
• Eastern hit multiple homeruns in a game for the second time this season, the first being an 8-5 win over #23 Texas A&M-Commerce (3/4/22).
• Galindo and Martinez picked up their second homeruns of the season, with Urquidez posting their eighth long ball.
• Bowman picked up their first career save in game one. 
• The Hounds step out of conference play for its next set of games, taking on New Mexico Highlands University on Wednesday, Apr. 13, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.