OKLAHOMA CITY – It took until the final two innings of regulation, but Eastern New Mexico pulled out a victory against Oklahoma Christian in game two of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The two teams each took a game by a single run margin and look towards Sunday to decide who wins the season series.
Game 1
Both defenses battled strong in the first contest, but it was OC who found the 1-0 result in their favor.
The matchup did not see the game's lone run scored until the bottom of the sixth inning. That is when the Eagles led off with a pair of doubles to break the scoring drought.
ENMU was able to get out of the inning without allowing an additional run and headed to the final frame of regulation where they went three up and three down.
The 1-0 game included a no-hitter by OC's ace in the circle.
Two Hounds reached base on walks –
Azalea Martinez and
Jokaira Paredes. Besides that, the impressive day in the circle showcased why Oklahoma Christian is the fourth best team in conference standings.
"
Marissa Rodriguez pitched another great game, but offensively we were not able to produce behind her," said head coach
Amanda Fefel after the game. "We need to be more selective down in the zone and attack pitches earlier in the count."
The freshman moved to 4-5 in the circle allowing just five hits and two walks on 77 pitches.
Eastern did not give up after a narrow 1-0 loss and moved on to game two of the doubleheader.
Game 2
The next game proved to be quite the pitching duel as both
Brook Leger and OC's pitcher began the first going three up and three down.
ENMU saw the first glimpse of offense as they loaded the bases after a pair of walks and a hit by pitch. However, a strikeout kept the score locked at 0-0.
The Greyhounds proceeded to get a runner on base in every inning except the fifth.
Oklahoma Christian's first prime opportunity came after a leadoff walk and the runner advanced a base on a pair of fielder's choices. Then, a wild pitch allowed the runner to touch home plate 60-feet later.
The Eagles increased their lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning where they had three singles.
Down by a couple runs, ENMU took advantage of a situation in the sixth. OC committed two errors in the frame leading to one run across home for the Hounds.
The seventh proved to be more dramatic.
Eastern New Mexico loaded the bases with one out after a
Mikenzey Patterson single,
Ashley Nickerson walk, and
Taighen Whitzel walk. Then, an
Alondra Vasquez sacrifice fly tied the game.
With the bases loaded after an
Azalea Martinez walk,
Jokaira Paredes was hit by a pitch and that moved the runners around allowing Nickerson to score and the Hounds to take their first lead of the afternoon, 3-2.
The Eagles did get a leadoff single with the runner advancing to third on an error at third base.
The leadoff runner was tagged out on a fielder's choice and OC got another single to put Eagles at first and second with one out.
Two straight flyouts to centerfield clinched the second game of the series for ENMU.
"
Brook Leger battled the entire game getting out of some big jams defensively to help our offense find a way late in the game," said Fefel on the senior's performance in the circle. "Momentum was huge allowing us to keep things going after a pitching change to push ahead 3-2."
Leger finished the outing allowing six hits and two runs on 91 pitches. She earned her 12th win of the season and her 30th in her four-year career for ENMU.
"Our bench and hitters never gave up. They found a way to work the count, take a hit by pitch, or produce with a hit," said Fefel on her team. "Tomorrow will be no different. We need to find a way and fight."
The Greyhounds and Eagles will take the field for a 12 p.m. MT first pitch in Oklahoma City tomorrow. ENMU snapped a six-game winning streak against OC with the 3-2 victory.
