LAREDO, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Softball dropped the first game of its conference opening series against Texas A&M International, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon at Dustdevil Softball Field. ENMU stands at 7-2 overall, while taking its first loss in conference play. TAMIU improve to 4-7 on the season, while snagging the first conference win of the season.
 
The Dustdevils struck first in the opening inning, using a walk, reach on error, and two hits to jump out to a 3-0 lead after the opening frame. Both defenses settled in over the next two innings, with a pair of zeros going on the board for both teams. Eastern scored their first run in the 4^th inning, from a sacrifice fly. Samantha Gutierrez led off the inning with a double, then moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt. Aylene Lucero brought home Gutierrez on the sacrifice fly to make the score 3-1.
 
ENMU manufactured another run in the 5^th inning, setting the score at 3-2 TAMIU. A two-out walk from Alondra Vasquez put a base runner on, with Samyrah Sanders entering as a pinch-runner. After Sanders stole second base, Taighen Whitzel singled in the base runner from second to close the gap to one run. However, Texas A&M International picked up a pair of vital insurance runs in the 6^th inning to extend its advantage to 5-2.
 
Down to their last out, Vasquez doubled to keep the game alive then scored after Whitzel reached base on an error. Grace Rofii singled to put the tying run on base, but the Dustdevils recorded the final out to win 5-3.

NOTABLE STATS

• ENMU out hit the Dustdevils 7-5, but TAMIU finished the game victors.
• Seven different ENMU hitters recorded a base hit, with Vasquez, Gutierrez, and Valeria Contreras posting doubles. Lucero and Whitzel both finished with an RBI in the game.
• Jordan Rivera takes the loss for Eastern, giving up three runs from two hits and three walks. Marissa Rodriguez delivered 5.1 solid relief innings, with three hits allowed, two runs, and four strikeouts.
• Erika Cortez finished a complete game in the circle to earn the win, allowing seven hits with three runs and one strikeout.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Greyhounds are playing just their second ever conference series against Texas A&M International, with the Dustdevils leading the all-time series 11-3.
• Eastern New Mexico look to recover in the doubleheader scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18. The first game of the day is set for 11:15 a.m. (MST), while the second game should start around 1:45 (MST).