Contreras_Valeria_2_22_WNMU_Cropped
2
Eastern New Mexico ENMU 14-11
3
Winner Lubbock Christian LCU 17-7
Eastern New Mexico ENMU
14-11
2
Final
3
Lubbock Christian LCU
17-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Eastern New Mexico ENMU 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0
Lubbock Christian LCU 0 0 2 1 0 0 X 3 9 2

W: Taylor Franco (7-5) L: Smith, Delia (1-5)

Game Recap: Softball | | Jose Montoya

ENMU softball comes just shy versus No. 10 LCU

Greyhounds fall in a tight 3-2 contest against Chaps

LUBBOCK, Texas – Eastern New Mexico softball battled No. 10 Lubbock Christian within one run, 3-2, in the opening contest of a three-game series.

Delia Smith got the start for the Hounds versus the Chaps and held LCU off the scoreboard over the opening two innings.

The solid start in the circle gave Eastern a prime opportunity to take an early 2-0 advantage.

A two-run second inning began with Alondra Vasquez getting a leadoff base hit. She advanced to second on an error in the outfield and put herself in scoring position with no outs.

Valeria Contreras hit a single up the middle and that put runners on the corners for the Greyhounds. From there, Jennifer Gress reached base on a fielder's choice which gave Contreras enough time to get to second before the throw and Vasquez ended up scoring the first run of the day.

A wild pitch in the next at-bat allowed Gress and Contreras to move to second and third respectively allowing another ideal chance for the Hounds to score. This time, Jokaira Paredes grounded out to second and Contreras was able to get to home plate and give her team the multirun lead.

The Chaps tied the game in the third inning as three-straight singles loaded the bases and a sac-fly to center field and a single up the middle equalized the game at 2-2.

LCU scored the eventual game winning run off a solo homerun from Kamryn Gibbs in the fourth inning.

Lubbock Christian made it difficult for ENMU to find additional scoring chances, but the Greyhounds did get two runners on in the sixth after an Alondra Vasquez walk and a single by Valeria Contreras. The inning ended, however, as the Hounds grounded into a double play.

"Delia (Smith) did a great job using her defense to get outs throughout the game. Their hitters are aggressive and she hit all spots to keep them off balance," said head coach Amanda Fefel after the game. "Tomorrow is going to be a great two game set with four arms still being able to throw. It's always a positive when a team only sees one pitcher in a game."

Smith allowed nine hits and a walk over six innings of work and 84 total pitches.

Contreras had a team-high two hits on the day.

The doubleheader Wednesday is set for 12 p.m. MST with the second game following directly afterwards.