PORTALES, N.M. – Cameron University came out on top in a pair of close games against Eastern New Mexico softball, 7-3 and 4-2, on Sunday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. The Greyhounds slip to 10-26 on the season, with 3-17 standing in conference play. The Aggies move to 21-17 on the year and 9-11 in LSC action.

GAME ONE: CU 7, ENMU 3

Cameron jumped on the board in the first inning after a solo homerun to centerfield. Eastern looked to respond in the next two innings, but a single hit in each inning was all the Greyhounds could provide at the plate. CU posted another run in the third inning after a sacrifice fly into left field scored a runner from third, 2-0 CU.
 
A homerun in the 4^th inning pushed the score to 3-0 in favor of the Aggies. Later in the inning, Cameron used three straight hits to score two more runs for a 5-0 advantage after four innings. The scoring stopped until the 6^th inning, as the Aggies went long two times to hold a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
 
With Eastern down to their last three outs, the Greyhounds started to connect at the plate. Azalea Martinez began the inning with a walk, and Lisette Urquidez doubled to right center to score the Greyhounds first run of the game, 7-1. With two outs and Urquidez on third, Torianna Borunda put a ball in play and reached on an error, allowing Urquidez to score, 7-2 CU. Breanna Loyola was next at the plate as a pinch hitter, and delivered a double to right field, pushing the run home, 7-3 CU. However, the late comeback for ENMU was cut short as Cameron finished the game 7-3 winners over ENMU.

NOTABLE STATS

• Eastern posted four hits on the afternoon: Brook Leger, Urquidez, Jokaira Paredes, and Loyola all picking up base knocks. Urquidez and Loyola provided the RBIs for the Greyhounds.
• Urquidez takes the loss in 3.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs from seven hits. Jordan Bowman allowed four runs in the game, going 2.2 innings with eight hits conceded. Jennifer Gress tossed one inning, giving up one hit and no runs.
• Breley Weeb recorded the complete game victory, giving up four hits, three runs, with eight strikeouts.

GAME TWO: CU 4, ENMU 2

After a lengthy delay in the start of the contest, Cameron scored the games first run in the second inning, from a solo home run. With the score at 1-0 CU, Eastern got on the board in the third inning. A leadoff walk from Borunda put a runner on the bases, and Ashlee Lucero moved them over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Leger stepped into the batters box with two outs and deposited a ball into the opposite field to tie the game at 1-1 with Borunda coming home.
 
The Aggies immediately responded in the next half inning with a run after a single to center field. Fortunately, Eastern escaped any further damage after turning a 4-5-6 double play to end the inning. However, Cameron put on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. A homerun and sacrifice fly brought two runs to the plate heading into the bottom of the seventh, 4-1 CU.
 
ENMU tried to comeback in the final inning, with Paredes leading off with a single and advancing to second on an error. Cameron picked up two outs, but As. Lucero punched single into center field to score Paredes, 4-2 CU. A deep fly ball from Sierra Wooley ended the game, as Wooley represented the game tying run. Cameron took the final game by a score of 4-2.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Hounds provided three hits during the game with two runs. Leger, Paredes, and As. Lucero posted hits. Leger and As. Lucero picked up RBIs during the game.
• Leger pitched a complete game against the Aggies, giving up four runs from six hits.
• Josie Swafford tossed a complete game for Cameron, allowing two runs on three hits, with 10 strikeouts.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Aggies hold the all-time series lead 31-4-1 against the Greyhounds.
• In game two, the Greyhounds held Cameron to just four runs during the game for the first time since 2015, in a 7-3 win over the Aggies (3/22/15).
• Eastern New Mexico return to Greyhound Softball Field on Friday, Apr. 8, against Texas Women's University. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm.