PORTALES, N.M. – The long ball proved to be the difference in both games between No. 3 UT Tyler and Eastern New Mexico at Greyhound Softball Field. ENMU fell in game one, 5-0, and dropped game two, 10-2 (5 inn.).

Game 1
Both teams earned early chances at the plate in the first inning.

On the second pitch of the afternoon, UT Tyler smoked a deep shot over the left field fence to grab an early 1-0 lead.

For the Hounds, Mikenzey Patterson began the game with a single up the middle and Azalea Martinez reached base on a walk. Despite having two runners on, the Patriots went into the second with the one-run advantage.

The score sheet stayed dry until the fourth. That is when UTT had another solo shot over the left field wall to increase the lead, 2-0.

UT Tyler kept the momentum on their side with three runs in the fifth courtesy of a three-RBI homer to left field.

Ashley Nickerson got on base in the sixth via a double and Jennifer Gress earned a single in the seventh, but UTT maintained the shutout to take the 5-0 win.

Game 2
The Patriots wasted no time finding scoring chances as they posted four runs on three hits to begin game two of the doubleheader. The major play in the frame was a three-run RBI blast over the left center wall.

Despite trailing by four runs, ENMU stayed fighting with an impressive opening inning.

Mikenzey Patterson got things underway with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a groundout for Nickerson.

A single to center by Alondra Vasquez drove in Patterson and secured ENMU's first run of the day.

Vasquez found herself at second after a wild pitch and scored on a single from Jokaira Paredes.

UT Tyler piled on a pair of runs in the second on a two-RBI deep shot to center. The score moved to 6-2. In the third, the Patriots got three singles allowing two players to reach home and give them the six-run advantage.

For a fourth consecutive inning, UT Tyler scored at least two runs as they hit their sixth homer of the day and took a 10-2 lead.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Eastern looked to find any scoring opportunity. That all began with a Jennifer Gress double down the right field line. With two outs, Marissa Rodriguez reached base on a four-pitch walk.

Taighen Whitzel came into the contest to pinch hit and she hit a hard shot to the third baseman who was unable to make the play and loaded the bases for the Hounds.

With its best scoring chance of the day, ENMU came just a step shy from beating out a throw from second to first and UT Tyler kept the score at 10-2.

Over the final 1.1 innings, Jordan Bowman and Marissa Rodriguez helped the Greyhounds keep the score within eight runs.

In the fifth, Eastern earned a one-out single from Ashley Nickerson. Chanler Groves came into pinch run for the freshman at first. That is when Alondra Vasquez hit a line shot to right center.

Rounding third, Groves was sent home, but the speedy native of New Mexico was unable to escape the tag at home. One out later and the Patriots snagged game two from ENMU.

"These are the games we need to learn from. UT Tyler is the top team in the conference and these are the games where we need to turn the page and capitalize on things we did well on," said head coach Amanda Fefel after the game. "Offensively we have to be able to produce and be able to execute. I think that is the word of the year this year – execute."

The Greyhounds will get one more shot at the Patriots tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 12 p.m.