ODESSA, Texas – Eastern New Mexico softball got back to winning ways as they took down UT Permian Basin, 5-2, Saturday afternoon.

Junior Alondra Vasquez got the Hounds off to a hot start with a two-out solo shot to left center and gave ENMU the early 1-0 advantage.

Starter Brook Leger paced Eastern by downing the first three hitters, including a pair of strikeouts.

Aylene Lucero scored Eastern New Mexico's second run of the day as UTPB caught Jokaira Paredes trying to steal second allowing Lucero enough room to cross the plate.

An RBI-single in the bottom of the second for the Falcons cut the Hounds lead and brought the score to 2-1.

Both teams got a runner on base in the third, but none reached home in the frame. That situation all changed in the fourth as Azalea Martinez hit a double to center and Lucero reached first via an error by the catcher after a sacrifice bunt.

Then, Jokaira Paredes battled toe-to-toe in an at-bat and found herself with a double down the left side scoring both Martinez and Lucero with the hit.

"I was thinking 'put the ball in play to score at least one.' I knew she was going inside because she had pitched me out the pitch before," said Paredes when asked about the two-RBI double. "I wanted to execute in the at-bat to produce for my team."

After holding UTPB scoreless in the fourth, ENMU increased its lead with Azalea Martinez's second double of the day. The shot to right center scored Raegan Chioino who was pinch running for Ashley Nickerson after reaching base on an error.

Despite getting two base hits in the bottom of the fifth, UT Permian Basin could not find a way to cut into the deficit. Both teams struggled offensively until the final inning as the Falcons scored a run with two outs to bring the score to 5-2. At this point, UTPB held runners on the corners and the tying runner at the plate.

However, that did not bring trouble to the Hounds and they secured their first win in Odessa since the 2018 season.

One of the highlights of the game came from Leger as she threw all seven innings and struckout nine batters. Her ninth put her at 100 total in the season.

"I felt really focused," said Leger after today's contest. "My mindset for today was to shut them down, work ahead, and don't give them any extra opportunities."

Although the Hounds only got five hits all day, the team battled and ended up breaking a four-game losing skid.

"I was proud of how we came out and strung a couple of hits together to go up in the fourth inning," said head coach Amanda Fefel after the team's win. "Brook and the defense did well getting out of a couple of jams. We need to keep our composure and confidence at the plate tomorrow and be able to execute in big moments."

Both the Falcons and Greyhounds will be back in action for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. MT tomorrow.