TYLER, Texas – The Greyhounds pulled off a 1-0 upset over (7) St. Mary's in the opening game of the 2023 Lone Star Conference tournament.

"I told them before we got off the bus, 'be where your feet are,'" said head coach Amanda Fefel in the postgame interview. "I'm just so proud of them with all the fight that they had."

The Greyhounds executed their game plan early. Outfielder Mikenzey Patterson led the contest off with a base hit through the right side. Then, a sacrifice bunt from Aylene Lucero advanced Patterson into scoring position.

A few moments later, a wild pitch put the second team All-LSC honoree just sixty feet away from home plate.

Her teammate Ashley Nickerson hit a grounder to the Rattlers second baseman and they chose to tag out Patterson. However, Patterson gracefully slid under the catcher's tag and scored the only run needed to send the Greyhounds into the next round of the conference tournament.

The defense proved to be a major component in the victory for ENMU as Brook Leger earned her fifth shutout of the season and her seventh of her career.

"She's a bulldog," said Fefel on her senior ace. "She has worked her entire career to get to this point. The ball was not going in anyone's hands except for Brook's."

Leger went 7.0 innings allowing just six hits and four walks. She struckout six batters to improve her all-time strikeouts mark to 370 total. The game moves her to 14-7 on the season and 32-32 overall.

"It means so much to me," said Leger on the shutout victory. "This is everything we have worked for since August. Being here for four years you think of these moments."

St. Mary's left ten runners on base, including a bases loaded opportunity in the third inning.

"The left side of the field (Madison Begaye, Valeria Contreras, and Aylene Lucero) did great tracking down balls and leaving their feet when needed," said Fefel when asked about the defense after the game. "Madi (Begaye) played great at third base today keeping the speed of the lefties to a minimum."

Patterson finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate. She improved her season batting average to .400 and provided momentum to the Hounds offense when they needed it the most.

"You have to use the field," said Patterson on the program's mindset going into the opening game. "You have to be ready for anything no matter what."

One of the silent weapons at the plate to help move runners on base came from Aylene Lucero.

"Laney (Lucero) did great in the two hole being able to execute the small ball when needed," said Fefel on the assistance at the plate. "She came up and led us with a stand up double off the wall to get our offense going as well."

The Greyhounds are now set for a contest with West Texas A&M coming at 3 p.m. MST. All further updates will be posted via the ENMU Athletics webpage and on all ENMU softball social media channels.