PORTALES, N.M. – Long ball helped Eastern New Mexico Softball sweep the doubleheader against UT Permian Basin on Wednesday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. Both wins secured a series sweep over the Falcons. The Greyhounds shift to 18-14 overall, while holding a 11-13 LSC record. Meanwhile, the Falcons fall to 4-26 on the season, with a 1-20 conference standing.
GAME ONE: ENMU 8, UTPBÂ 5
Eastern wasted no time getting on the board, with
Alondra Vasquez and
Samantha Gutierrez hitting home runs in the opening inning. Vasquez recorded a solo home run over the left field scoreboard, while Gutierrez pulled a ball down the third base line with a runner on that stayed far, 3-0 ENMU. Shortly after,
Aylene Lucero doubled to left field and
Grace Rofii sent Lucero home on a single to right field (4-0 ENMU).
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The long ball popped up again for Eastern in the second inning, with Vasquez hitting their second homer of the day (this time a 2-run home run).
Mikenzey Patterson started the inning with a triple, then Vasquez cleared the bases, 6-0 ENMU. UT Permian Basin did respond in the next half inning, plating two runs during the top of the third, after a two-out triple with two runners on brought in the Falcons runs. The Greyhounds picked up run in the next half inning, with
Chanler Groves reaching on an infield single to score
Emma Southerland from second base (7-2 ENMU). Guteirrez provided their second home run of the game (solo home run) in 6th inning to make the score 8-2 Eastern.
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UT Permian Basin made one final rally in the top of the seventh, trailing 8-2. A walk and a reach on error put runners at the corners with two outs in the game. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, as double to left field cleared all the runners to pit the score at 8-5 ENMU.
Marissa Rodriguez came in from the bullpen to record the final out and did so with a strikeout to end the game for the Greyhounds.
NOTABLE STATS
- ENMU outhit UT Permian Basin 10-6, with eight of the Greyhounds hits going for extra bases. Eastern totaled two singles, three doubles, a triple, and four home runs.
- Seven different Greyhounds accounted for a hit, with three different student-athletes posting two hits.
- Vasquez and Gutierrez both finished 2-4 at the plate, each hitting a pair of homers with three RBIs.
- Emma Southerland started the game strong for Eastern, tossing 6.2 innings with five runs allowed (two earned runs), along with four strikeouts. Rodriguez earned the save, striking out the one batter they faced.
- Morgan McGaugh was dealt the loss, giving up six runs from six hits in 1.1 innings. Destini Trahan slowed down the ENMU offense, conceding two runs in 4.2 innings with four hits allowed.
GAME TWO: ENMU 6, UTPB 2
Following a scoreless inning to begin the game, Eastern New Mexico struck first in the second frame with a pair of runs. After Lucero singled and advanced to third on an error later in the inning, the Greyhounds left fielder raced home on a wild pitch for ENMU to go up 1-0. Later in the inning with two outs,
Jordan Rivera singled through the right side to bring home the games second run.
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In the circle, Rivera had a clean first three innings recording six strikeouts through first nine batters they faced. In the bottom of the third,
Taighen Whitzel doubled the Greyhounds lead with a two-run home run to right field to make the score 4-0. Eastern added one more run in the inning after a
Xochitl Trejo groundout scored a run. UT Permian Basin did notch a run during the 4
th and 5
th inning, making the score 5-2. The Falcons brought home a run in the 4
th on a bases loaded single, while recording a solo home run in the 5
th frame.
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Patterson provided the Greyhounds with an insurance run in the bottom of the 5
th, recording a sacrifice fly to left field to send the score to 6-2. From then, back-to-back 1-2-3 innings on defense allowed ENMU to finish the game with a 6-2 win.
NOTABLE STATS
- ENMU (nine hits) and UT Permian Basin (four hits) each had a home run during the game.
- Whitzel and Lucero led the hitting effort with two hits each, while Lucero and Rofii both scored two runs in the game.
- Rivera just missed out on the decision, tossing 3.2 innings with seven strikeouts facing just 15 batters during 13 at bats. Rodriguez claims the win in relief, allowing one run from two hits over 3.1 innings pitched.
- Laila Vasquez allowed five runs (three earned) over 2.1 innings with four hits and three walks, during the loss. Trahan was effective in relief, giving up one run from five hits.
FROM THE SOURCE
"Emma (Southerland) and Jordan (Rivera) did a great job today getting the starts in game one and game two," said Head ENMU Softball Coach Amanda Fefel. "I was also proud of how Marissa (Rodriguez) came in both games as relief to help shut down momentum. Although we put up runs early, I felt that we left way too many runners on base in multiple back-to-back innings," said Fefel. "These were three big wins for us as we move into another tough series with #5 UT Tyler this weekend,".
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- During game one, Vasquez and Gutierrez both had their second multi-home run games of the season. Both Vasquez and Gutierrez each provided their 9th game of the season with multiple RBIs.
- Lucero produced multiple doubles in a single game for the first time this season, while Rodriguez gathered their first save of their career in the circle.
- Rivera marked the second game with a lifetime best seven strikeouts in a game, setting a single game high by an ENMU pitcher this season. Additionally, Rivera recorded their first career RBI as a hitter. Trejo secured their first RBI as a Greyhound.
- Groves was very effective defensively for the Greyhounds over both games, finishing with a combined 11 putouts and seven assists at second base.
- With five home runs over the two games, ENMU has recorded the 5th most home runs in a single season in program history with 36 total on the season. Additionally, Vasquez has entered the top-10 for individual home runs in a single season, with 10 total.
- Eastern now head on the road for a three-game series with #5 UT Tyler, scheduled for this weekend. Rain has pushed the opening game of the series back to Saturday, Mar. 23, with a doubleheader slated for 12 p.m. (MST) and 2 p.m. (MST).
