PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico softball needed one win Friday evening to clinch a spot into the Lone Star Conference tournament for the first time since 2002. That's exactly what happened as the Greyhounds beat Texas A&M-Kingsville, 4-2, at Greyhound Softball Field.
"I just think they worked so hard," said head coach
Amanda Fefel when asked about the team reaching the postseason for the first time in 21 years. "Changing the face of the program has been huge. It's like rewriting the history books for this program."
Down 2-0 going into the bottom of the sixth, ENMU found themselves in prime position to make a late run.
Leadoff hitter
Mikenzey Patterson found herself down 0-2 to begin the frame, but the speedy outfielder found a pitch over the plate and singled down the left side to reach base safely.
Ashley Nickerson then hit a blooping shot to shallow right field giving the Hounds runners in scoring position. Head coach
Amanda Fefel made the decision to put in senior
Torianna Borunda as a pinch runner for
Ashley Nickerson.
One of the top sluggers on the team was due up next for Eastern.
Alondra Vasquez, known for her power at the plate, was given the call to bunt and help the runners advance to scoring position.
The junior transfer did just so with a bunt that landed inches in front of the batter's box. Vasquez was able to advance safely with the single and load the bases. Her teammate,
Jennifer Gress, came in to pinch run for her at first.
"I had to do anything I could to move the runners," said Vasquez after the contest. "I was hoping to get my team in a better position to score."
Then, an infield fly for
Marissa Rodriguez got the Javelinas the first out of the sixth.
Rightfielder
Aylene Lucero came up to bat for the Hounds with the bases still loaded.
After a first pitch called ball, the righty hit a line shot to left field. The ball stayed inside the fence line by half an inch, erasing a potential grand slam. Instead, two runners scored and ENMU had equalized the game with TAMUK.
A six-pitch walk for senior
Azalea Martinez loaded the bases once again with one out. The visitors did not take long to get another out as
Emma Southerland hit a dribbler to the Javelina's pitcher forcing Texas A&M-Kingsville to toss the force out at home. Southerland managed to race out the throw from the catcher to first and kept the inning alive.
Then,
Valeria Contreras connected on a ball over the plate and sent it to center field. Two runners scored, but TAMUK was able to get Southerland out at third as she was attempting to reach base safely. Despite the out, both Hounds crossed home plate before Southerland was tagged out.
"Hitting is contagious," said Fefel on the team's approach to the end of the game. "I like that energy and mindset of being able to pass the bat."
Although the team held a lead, they still needed to get three outs to close out the contest.
Senior
Brook Leger did just that. She struckout the first two Javelina batters and her teammate
Valeria Contreras made an excellent defensive play to clinch the win and push the Hounds into the conference tournament.
Leger went seven innings and threw 102 pitches. The Albuquerque, N.M. native allowed just seven hits, two walks, and two runs (one earned). Two of her four strikeouts came in the final inning of work.
Lucero and Nickerson both finished with a pair of hits.
The Greyhounds will finish the weekend series against Texas A&M-Kingsville tomorrow with a doubleheader set for 11 a.m. Senior day festivities will follow after the final game.
