PORTALES, N.M. – Playing their first home games of the season, Eastern New Mexico Softball took both games of the doubleheader against St. Edward's on Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. The opening game saw the Greyhounds score seven runs in the third inning, leading to an 8-0 (5 Inn.) win. In the evening game, Eastern took advantage of five runs in the 4^th inning in a 6-1 victory over the Hilltoppers.

GAME ONE: ENMU 8, SEU 0 (5 Inn.)

Pitching dominated in the opening two frames, as Marissa Rodriguez worked around two hits in the opening inning, along with a lead-off hit for St. Edward's in the 2^nd inning. Rodriguez went on to dominate after the second inning, retiring 12 consecutive batters from the 2^nd inning onward.
 
After being held in check during their first at bats, the ENMU lineup batted around in the 3^rd inning scoring seven runs from five hits. Mikenzey Patterson started with a single, Alondra Vasquez singled, and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Samantha Gutierrez broke open the scoring with an RBI single, then Rodriguez also singled to score a pair of runs (ENMU 3-0). After the Hilltoppers produced two outs, Valeria Contreras drew a walk to score a run. In Patterson's second at bat of the inning, they tripled to right center to clear the bases and wrap up a seven-run inning (7-0 ENMU).
 
After a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 4^th, Taighen Whitzel began the inning with a solo home run to right field to go up 8-0. Three groundouts in the 5^th inning ended the home opener with an 8-0 win for the Greyhounds.  

NOTABLE STATS

• ENMU outhit St. Edward's 9-3, with the Greyhounds accounting for five extra base hits. Both defenses played a clean game, committing zero errors.
• Six Greyhounds combined for the hits, with three different student-athletes posting two hits.
• Patterson finished 2-3 with three RBI, while Whitzel and Aylene Lucero grabbed a pair of hits. Rodriguez brought home two runs, with Whitzel leading the team with two runs scored.
• In the circle, Rodriguez was near untouchable with just three hits during the complete game shutout. The sophomore profiled a pair of strikeouts, forcing eight groundouts.
• Kylen Padgett and Makenna Holloway pitched in the game for St. Edward's, with the former allowing seven runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings. Holloway gave up one run in one inning of action.

GAME TWO: ENMU 6, SEU 1

A lead-off home run for Ella Hutzler gave St. Edward's a slim 1-0 lead in the 2^nd inning. The Greyhounds did put a runner in scoring position in the 2^nd and 3^rd inning but couldn't get a run to cross the plate to tie the game.
 
That changed in the 4^th inning, with the Greyhounds scoring five runs from six hits. Judith Osuna walked to start the inning, then Emma Southerland and Contreras both singled to load the bases. Patterson and Vasquez compiled back-to-back singles to give ENMU a 2-1 lead. Whitzel then doubled home two runs to increase the lead. Lucero added one more run with an RBI single, as the Greyhounds jumped out to a 5-1 lead after the 4^th frame.
 
Both teams prevented runners from scoring in the 5^th inning, while Lucero homered to left center in the 6^th inning to increase its lead. St. Edward's did load the bases in the 7^th inning, but a 5-3 double play confirmed the Greyhounds 6-1 win over St. Edward's.

NOTABLE STATS

• The teams were close in hits, but the Greyhounds led 10-8 in hits. Each team committed an error in the field.
• Seven of the nine starters in the lineup picked up a base hit, while a trio of Greyhounds had multiple hits. The Greyhounds stole four bases, while turning one double play on defense.
• Whitzel and Lucero both had two hits and two RBIs, while Southerland gathered two hits. Six different Greyhounds scored a run, while the team took advantage of eight walks.
• Southerland worked around eight hits, giving up one run in their fifth win of the season in a complete game.
• Lisette Urquidez took the loss, giving up five runs from six hits and five walks. Kylen Padgett and Makenna Holloway both pitched 1.1 innings, with the latter surrendering one run from two hits.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Today was a great day on both sides of the ball," said Head ENMU Softball Coach Amanda Fefel. "The team played solid defense behind both Marissa Rodriguez and Emma Southerland. I was very happy with how both pitchers went the distance," said Fefel. "Our offense capitalized on several innings with runners in scoring position to push ahead. We are looking to carry this momentum over to tomorrow," said Fefel.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Lucero now has multiple hits in four straight games, while hitting their first home run of the season. Whitzel posted their team leading 5^th home run of the season, finishing 4-4 across both games with three walks and three RBIs.
• Patterson plated three runs in a single game for the third time this season, hitting their second triple of the season.
• During the first game, Rodriguez tossed their first complete game shutout of the season with three hits allowed and no free passes (both season bests for a start). Additionally, Rodriguez posted two RBIs in back-to-back games in the batter's box, hitting their first double of the season.
• In game two, Southerland delivered their second complete game of the season with a season best 1.00 game ERA. Southerland also helped in the batter's box, holding their third multi-hit game of the season.
• Eastern concludes the three-game series on Sunday, Feb. 25, beginning at 12 p.m. from Greyhound Softball Field.