PORTALES, N.M. – Eight seniors played their final games at Greyhound Softball Field Saturday afternoon.
The group includes
Brook Leger,
Azalea Martinez,
Kianna Galindo,
Jokaira Paredes,
Torianna Borunda,
Jordan Bowman,
Mackenzie Shaw, and
Breanna Loyola.
Eastern New Mexico dropped game one, 6-4, and game two, 3-1.
Game 1
The Greyhounds took a 2-1 lead in the first inning after Texas A&M-Kingsville struck first with an RBI-double. The runs for Eastern came off a no-doubter two-run homerun from
Aylene Lucero.
TAMUK used a big third inning to take a three-run lead. They scored off a two-run homer and added another off a double down the right field line.
The Javelinas added another in the fourth on a bases loaded walk to bring the score to 6-2.
ENMU cut the lead in half, 6-4, with four hits in the fifth. However, two strong throws from the visitors from the outfield tagged out a pair of runners trying to advance bases and limit the scoring threat to a pair of runs.
Mikenzey Patterson led off the seventh with a single, but she was unable to advance as the Javelinas managed to get a trio of productive outs to close out the matchup.
Four different players had multihit games for ENMU. Those include Patterson (3), Lucero (2),
Ashley Nickerson (2), and
Azalea Martinez (2). Senior
Mackenzie Shaw also finished with a base hit.
Game 2
All things got off to an ideal start for Eastern New Mexico in the second game of the day as
Marissa Rodriguez set down the top of the order in order to begin the contest. Her teammates helped her out on the offensive end scoring a run to take the lead into the second inning.
Both programs got at least a runner in scoring position in the second, but were unable to find a way to score. That took the game into the next two innings where both pitchers looked comfortable allowing just one batter on base each.
The fifth inning was different. The Javelinas took advantage of a bases loaded situation by hitting a bases clearing triple to take the 3-1 advantage.
For the rest of the game, TAMUK held onto its lead and made it difficult for Eastern New Mexico to find any wiggle room.
The Javelinas clinched the sixth spot in the LSC postseason tournament while ENMU will be the ten seed.
After the game, all eight seniors were recognized for their contributions to the program.
"Those ladies have been a pivotal point of this program in turning it around," said head coach
Amanda Fefel when asked about the group. "They stuck it out through the ups and down of several coaching changes and things getting turned upside down on them. They trusted on me and Shanna to turn things around."
The group will not put its focus on a Thursday morning matchup with St. Mary's as the team opens up play at the Lone Star Conference tournament set to be hosted by UT Tyler.
Additional tournament details will be announced as information is available.
