PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico dropped the third game of a three-game set, 8-0, in five innings to No. 3 UT Tyler Sunday afternoon.

The Patriots got off to a near perfect start as the matchup began with a hit by pitch, sacrifice bunt, RBI-double, hit by pitch, infield fly, two-RBI double, and an RBI-single.

Trailing 4-0 after the first half inning, ENMU looked to the top of the order to begin things off.

Ashley Nickerson hit a blooping shot in shallow center. Two UTT fielders collided on the play allowing Nickerson to record a one-out double. Despite having a runner in scoring position, the Greyhounds left the opening frame without a run.

The second inning went quickly as both teams went three up and three down.

UT Tyler continued to rely on the long ball as they started the third with a first-pitch leadoff homer to deep center.

For ENMU, Valeria Contreras gracefully stuck out her bat on the opening pitch of the bottom half of the third inning to earn a base hit. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Mikenzey Patterson, but the Hounds were unable to get any additional momentum offensively.

Both teams got runners on base in the fourth, but the score stayed in favor of UTT, 5-0.

The top of the fifth saw two more homers for UT Tyler. The Patriots began the frame with a six-pitch at-bat resulting in the deep shot to center. Three batters later and the visitors snagged a two-RBI homerun to take an 8-0 lead.

Looking to avoid the run-rule defeat, Eastern earned its fourth hit of the day on a one-out double from Contreras. Taighen Whitzel and Mikenzey Patterson battled tight with a pair of five-pitch at-bats, but the Patriots set them down and took the final game of the series, 8-0.

"We have to turn the page and prepare for Midwestern this week," said head coach Amanda Fefel after the game. "We need to get back to clean defense, solid pitching, and clutch hitting."

The Greyhounds continue Lone Star Conference play with a road trip to Wichita Falls, Texas to take on Midwestern State. The two programs will play a pair of games Thursday and conclude the series Friday.