SILVER CITY, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball completed a series victory on Wednesday afternoon, beating Western New Mexico, 12-3 in six innings, at The Yard. With the win, Eastern cross to 10-4 on the season, while sporting a 3-3 conference record. The Mustangs drop to 6-7 overall with a 3-3 LSC record.
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After a scoreless 1
st inning,
Marissa Rodriguez helped their own cause in the circle with a two-run home run to get Eastern on the board.
Samantha Gutierrez started the inning with a walk, allowing Rodriguez to bring in two runs. However, the Mustangs jumped out to a 3-2 lead after the third inning.
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In the next half inning, the Greyhounds put up six runs to take a five-run advantage. It started with ENMU loading the bases in the first three batters, allowing
Valeria Contreras to tie the game with an RBI-single. Then,
Mikenzey Patterson cleared bases with a double in the gap, pushing the Hounds lead to 6-3. Two batters later,
Taighen Whitzel hit an opposite field home run to increase the lead to 8-3.
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After a scoreless 5
th inning, Eastern continued to add to their lead with Patterson scoring on an
Alondra Vasquez reach on error. Then, Whitzel hit their second home run of the day with a base runner, giving Eastern an 11-3 cushion. Later,
Judith Osuna singled into left field to score the Greyhounds 12
th run of the game. Rodriguez closed out the 6
th inning in the circle to win 12-3 in six innings.
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NOTABLE STATS
- Eastern outhit the Mustangs 12-9 on the day, with five extra base hits (including three home runs). Seven different Greyhounds recorded a base hit, while five had multi-hit games.
- Patterson scattered three hits in the game, totaling three RBIs. Whitzel led the game with four RBIs from two 2-run home runs. Aylene Lucero and Rodriguez also picked up a pair of hits, while the latter had two RBIs.
- Getting it done in the batter's box, Rodriguez also did their job in the circle by tossing a complete game in the win. The sophomore allowed three runs from nine hits with a pair of strikeouts.
- The Mustangs starter, Labraida Tenorio, takes the loss allowing seven runs form seven hits with four K's. Kamerynn Cordova dealt 2.0 innings from the circle, giving up four hits and five runs. Emily Maddux recorded the final two outs for WNMU.
FROM THE SOURCE
"I'm proud of how the team stayed focused throughout the game and answered back once Western scored," said Head ENMU Softball Coach Amanda Fefel. "It's always good to see 1-9 in your lineup produce at the plate, in any situation. Taighen Whitzel, Mikenzey Patterson, Aylene Lucero, and Marissa Rodriguez all came in clutch today in a big way," said Fefel. "It was also good to see Marissa stay in the circle and finish out the game after the 3-run inning prior they had on her. It's never easy getting a road win in this conference, but we are happy to take the series," said Fefel.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Rodriguez picked up their first home run, first multi-hit game, and first RBIs of the season. In the circle, tossed their longest outing since the season opener against CSU-Pueblo (15-8).
- Whitzel posted their first multi-home run game of the season, and the second of their career. Patterson tied a season high for both hits in a single game (3) and RBIs in a single game (3).
- The Greyhounds play their first home games of the season this weekend, as St. Edward's comes to town. The series begins on Saturday, Feb. 24, with a doubleheader planned to start at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Both teams play the series finale on Sunday, Feb. 25, with a 12 p.m. first pitch.
