SAN ANGELO, Texas – Despite outhitting Angelo State, Eastern New Mexico dropped a tight contest Saturday afternoon, 4-1.

The first inning finished scoreless as ASU only managed to get a single in the bottom half of the inning.

Eastern got two runners on base via an Azalea Martinez single and an Edyn Lopez double, but the Hounds were unable to mark the scoreboard first. Instead, the Rams got a leadoff homer in the second to take the 1-0 advantage.

Ashley Nickerson earned a one-out walk in the third, but strong defense from the home side kept them in the lead.

Emma Southerland allowed two runs in the third and Taylor Harrison came in for relief with the Hounds trailing, 3-0. Two quick outs later sent the game into the fourth.

Again, ENMU got a runner on base and came away with no runs. This time courtesy of Valeria Contreras earning a walk after going down 0-2 early in the count.

The Greyhounds found a way to score in the fifth as Ashley Nickerson hit a two-out single to right center and stole second base with Alondra Vasquez at the plate. Vasquez blasted a shot to right center and the Hounds broke the shutout possibility.

ASU increased its lead, 4-1, in the fifth and managed to keep the score the rest of the way despite two strong chances for ENMU.

In the sixth, Jokaira Paredes had a single and in the seventh Brook Leger and Taighen Whitzel led the inning off with a pair of base hits.

Eastern New Mexico looks ahead to a three-game home series against West Texas A&M set for Tuesday and Wednesday. Game one begins at 4 p.m. on March 21.