PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball forced a split of a doubleheader with Midwestern State on Thursday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. The visiting Mustangs swiped the opening game of the series, 4-2, scoring four runs in the 5^th inning. Then, the Greyhounds grabbed the second game of the day, 9-5, posting five runs in the 6^th inning. Eastern now shift to 20-17 overall, with a 13-16 conference record. Midwestern State improve to 6-29 on the season, while holding a 4-22 LSC standing.

GAME ONE: MSU 4, ENMU 2

Both teams were held scoreless through the opening four innings, but the Mustangs had the bases loaded in 2^nd frame as the biggest scoring chance. To lead off the 5^th inning, a walk and hit-by-pitch put a runner in scoring position with one out. A single in shallow center field forced the game's first run home, giving Midwestern State a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, back-to-back infield singles pushed the score to 2-0 with the bases loaded. Midwestern State concluded the inning with two more runs, taking advantage of a fielding error to score two more runs to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Eastern's comeback effort started in the 6^th inning, with Samantha Gutierrez breaking up a no-hitter with a single to right field. After a walk put two runners on base, Marissa Rodriguez singled to center field to score the Greyhounds first run. The next batter, Cecy Jurado punched a single into left field to make the score 4-2 after the 6^th inning. The Greyhounds did get two runners on base in the 7^th inning, but the Mustangs held on for the 4-2 win.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Mustangs bested ENMU for hits (9-4) with every hit being a single.
• Four different Greyhounds had a base hit: Mikenzey Patterson, Gutierrez, Rodriguez, and Jurado. Both Rodriguez and Jurado had an RBI.
• Rodriguez is hit with the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on nine hits with five strikeouts and a pair of walks. Jordan Rivera faced one batter, recording two outs on the play.
• Addison Lindemann earned the win, taking a no-hitter into the 6^th inning. Lindemann allowed a pair of runs, from three hits recording nine strikeouts. Kennedy Cameron pitched a shutout inning in the 7^th to earn a save.

GAME TWO: ENMU 9, MSU 5

Midwestern State took an early lead in the first inning, benefiting from a solo home run. However, Eastern took their first lead of the game in the third inning. Chanler Groves started the frame with a triple down the right field line, then Patterson tied the game with a triple of their own (1-1). Alondra Vasquez followed with a single to left field to put ENMU on top 2-1. Gutierrez concluded the scoring with a sacrifice fly to push the score to 3-1.
 
The Mustangs did tie the score after scoring a run in the 4^th inning and the 5^th inning. In the 4^th, MSU singled home a run, after the leadoff hitter reached on a hit-by-pitch. During the 5^th inning, Midwestern State tied the game with a solo home run, 3-3. The tie game didn't last long, with ENMU picking up a run in the bottom of the 5^th. After a leadoff walk, pinch runner Aylene Lucero stole second base to move into scoring position. Gutierrez brought the runner home with a double to right field to see-saw ENMU back in front (4-3 ENMU).
 
The Greyhounds opened the game in the 6^th frame, scoring five runs from five hits. After Judith Osuna walked and Groves singled, Patterson reached base on a bunt single, then a throwing error allowed all the base runners to score, 7-3 ENMU. Vasquez followed with a double, then Taighen Whitzel singled to put two runners on with no outs. Gutierrez doubled off the top of the wall to plate one run, then Cecy Jurado finished the scoring with an RBI ground (9-5 ENMU).
 
Midwestern State did respond with a pair of runs in the 7^th inning, but Greyhounds finished the game with a 9-5 victory over the Mustangs.

NOTABLE STATS

• ENMU racked up 12 hits during the game, while the Mustangs finished with seven hits. The Greyhounds compiled five extra base hits, while five different Greyhounds had multiple hits.
• Patterson complied three hits during the game, while Groves, Gutierrez, Vasquez, and Whitzel all finished with two hits. Leading the way in RBIs, Gutierrez finished with three RBIs.
• Emma Southerland earned the victory, tossing 6.0 innings with five runs allowed from seven hits with six strikeouts. Rivera earned the final three outs, recording a pair of strikeouts in the three batters they faced.
• Four different pitchers entered the circle for the Mustangs, with Elizabeth Uhl bearing the loss (2.1 IP, 1 R, 3 H). Cameron started the game, lasting 2.0 innings during a no-decision with three runs allowed on four hits. Zoe Isom (0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R) and Shayanne Florence (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R) both entered the game for MSU.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• During the second game, Gutierrez recorded their 10^th multi-RBI game of the season, and 11^th game with multiple hits. Vasquez posted their 12^th multi-hit game of the season, while Whitzel grabbed their team best 17^th multi-hit game of the season.
• Both Groves and Patterson recorded a triple in the game, with Groves hitting their second of the season and Patterson hitting their fifth of 2024.
• Eastern wraps up the series against the Mustangs on Friday, March. 29, beginning at 12 p.m. from Greyhound Softball Field.