PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball drew a split of the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon against #25 Angleo State at Greyhound Softball Field. In game one, Marissa Rodirguez powered ENMU to victory with a complete game a 2-RBIs during a 2-1 victory. During the second game, Angelo State scored seven runs over the final two innings to earn a 10-2 win in six innings. The Greyhounds improve to 15-10 overall with a 8-9 conference record, while the Rambelles shift to 19-8 on the season and 10-7 in LSC action.

GAME ONE: ENMU 3, #25 ASU 1

The opening two innings proved to be scoreless, with both teams playing great defense. During the second inning, ENMU turned a 3-6-4 double play to eliminate a lead-off single, then Alondra Vasquez caught a runner trying to steal second base to end the inning. For the Rambelles, starting pitcher Cheyenne Ford recorded eight strikeouts over the first three innings to hold ENMU. ASU did take the lead in the third frame, combining a pair of hits with a walk to go up 1-0.
 
Over the next two innings, the ENMU hitter started to connect with the starting pitcher with Marissa Rodriguez hitting a solo home run over the right field fence to tie the game during the 4^th inning. In the 5^th inning, with two runners on and one out, Samantha Gutierrez hit the left center gap for a double to score the go ahead run for ENMU. Rodriguez followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left field to score the Greyhounds third run and hold a 3-1 lead.
 
Following a blank 6^th inning, Rodriguez finished the complete game for the Greyhounds working around a double with a looking strikeout ending the game with ENMU winning 3-1.

NOTABLE STATS

• Angelo State finished the game with six hits (one extra base hit), while the Greyhounds scored three runs from just four hits. Two of ENMU's hits went for extra bases.
• Four different student-athletes had a base hit, with two coming in the 4^th inning, and two coming in the 5^th inning. Along with Rodriguez homerun and Gutierrez double, Mikenzey Patterson laid down a bunt single, and Taighen Whitzel hit a hard single to the outfield.
• Rodriguez finished the game with one unearned run from six hits, with four walks, and four strikeouts.
• Ford takes the loss allowing all three runs on four hits but finishes with nine strikeouts in the game. Matie Wolkow retired all four batters they faced in the game.

GAME TWO: #25 ASU 10, ENMU 2 (6 INN.)

Both teams picked up a run during the opening inning of the game, with a triple to right field starting the scoring for the Rambelles. Vasquez responded in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to center field, 1-1. In the second frame, ASU loaded the bases with a single, followed by a double, and a walk. The next batter reached on a fielder choice to shortstop as two runs came home to push the advantage to 3-1.
The Greyhounds struck back with a run in the third inning, as Whitzel reached base with two outs on and error, then Gutierrez singled to right field. Grace Rofii then punched an infield single in the left side to make the score 3-2. ENMU had their chance to tie the game in the 4^th inning, but the Rambelles defense held them off the board.
 
From there, the Rambelles offense scored seven runs over the next two innings using seven hits. Back-to-back double in the 4^th put ASU ahead 5-2, and ENMU turned a double play with the base loaded to get out of the jam. During the 5^th frame, Angelo State strung together three consecutive hits, with a reach on error and a hit by pitch in between to push the score to 8-2. Then, another single with two runners on made the score 10-2. ASU retired the Greyhounds in the bottom of the frame to claim victory.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Rambelles doubled up the Greyhounds for hits (12-6), as Vasquez had the only extra base hit for ENMU.
• Gutierrez finished with a pair of single, while Valeria Contreras, Rofii, and Whitzel also had singles. Vasquez and Rofii both picked up an RBI.
• Emma Southerland started the game and took the loss, tossing 5.0 innings and giving up 10 hits and nine runs (eight earned). Ciara Loken faced five batters while getting three outs, giving up one run from two hits.
• Torrey Hogan picked up a win in relief, allowing just one hit in 2.1 innings pitched with three strikeouts. Matie Wolkow started the game, giving up a pair of runs on five hits.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With the win in game one, ENMU beat Angelo State in Portales for the first time since 2016, along with their first win against a nationally ranked opponent this season.
• In the circle, Rodriguez tossed their 5^th complete game of the season and tying a season high for strikeouts with four. In the batter's box, the sophomores had their third multi-RBI game of the season and their second home run of 2024.
• Defensively, Contreras set a season best with six fielding assists at shortstop in game one, while converting all nine fielding chances in game two (five putouts, four assists).
• Vasquez hit their eighth home run of the season, tying Whitzel for a conference and team best.
• Eastern New Mexico wrap up the series with #25 Angelo State on Sunday, Mar. 10, with a single game expected to take place at 12 p.m. at Greyhound SB Field.