4_13_SB_OC_Hardin (1)
1
Oklahoma Christian OC 27-17, 22-12 LSC
2
Winner Eastern N.M. ENMU 22-20, 15-19 LSC
Oklahoma Christian OC
27-17, 22-12 LSC
1
Final
2
Eastern N.M. ENMU
22-20, 15-19 LSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Oklahoma Christian OC 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
Eastern N.M. ENMU 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 8 0

W: Rivera, Jordan (5-3) L: Grace Anderson (13-8)

4
Winner Oklahoma Christian OC 28-17, 23-12 LSC
3
Eastern N.M. ENMU 22-21, 15-20 LSC
Winner
Oklahoma Christian OC
28-17, 23-12 LSC
4
Final
3
Eastern N.M. ENMU
22-21, 15-20 LSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oklahoma Christian OC 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 4 8 0
Eastern N.M. ENMU 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 8 0

W: Jill Dickson (13-6) L: Rodriguez, Marissa (9-9) S: Kadence Brewster (1)

Game Recap: Softball | | Cameron Brennan

Walk-off Lifts Softball In Doubleheader Split With Oklahoma Christian

Skylar Hardin provided a pinch-hit single to score the game winning run in the 8th inning of game one.

PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball picked up their first home victory against Oklahoma Christian as part of a doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. In game one, Skylar Hardin provided a walk-off hit to beat the Eagles 2-1, behind a complete game effort in the circle from Jordan Rivera. During the second game, the Eagles hit a pair of home runs and held on to a 4-3 victory over ENMU. ENMU shifts to 22-21 on the season, along with a 15-20 conference record. The Eagles moves to 28-17 on the season, posting a 23-12 LSC standing.

GAME ONE: ENMU 2, OC 1 (8 INN.)

Oklahoma Christian started the game quickly, with a double and a single combining to score the games first run, 1-0 OC. ENMU prevented any further damage with a strikeout and a 1-3 double play ending the inning. ENMU responded in the bottom of the inning, with Mikenzey Patterson getting on base with a bunt single. Three batters later, Samantha Gutierrez doubled with two outs to left center to score Patterson and tie the game.
 
ENMU put runners in scoring position in the second frame, with Grace Rofii and Valeria Contreras both reaching base on a single. However, the Eagles got out of the inning unscathed to keep the score tied at 1-1. Oklahoma Christian put runners on base in the 5th inning, taking advantage of a pair of walks. The Eagles did have runners on the corners with two outs, but a strikeout ended any chance to score. Both offensives slowed as the game entered the 8th inning, with five consecutive 1-2-3 innings keeping the score a 1-1 heading to the bottom of the 8th.
 
Eastern finally broke through in the 8th inning, with Cecy Jurado getting on base with an infield single to start the inning. Contreras moved the runner into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, leading pinch hitter Skylar Hardin to win the game. Hardin bounced a full count pitch over the head of the first basemen, bringing Jurado around to score and walk-off the game 2-1.
 

NOTABLE STATS

  • The Greyhounds out-hit the Eagles, 8-2, with each team providing one extra base hit. Seven different batters had a hit for Eastern.
  • Gutierrez picked up a pair of hits and an RBI, while Jurado and Hardin each had a base hit as a pinch-hitter.
  • Jordan Rivera tossed a complete game in the circle, going eight innings of one-run ball (one unearned run). The right-hander allowed just two hits (both in the first inning), with two walks and five strikeouts.
  • Grace Anderson gave up eight hits and two runs, while striking out six batters.

GAME TWO: OC 4, ENMU 3

The Greyhounds quickly put up a pair of runs from the first four batters in the first frame. Patterson singled to left field, then Alondra Vasquez doubled down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position. A ground out from Taighen Whitzel scored the game's first run, then Gutierrez brought Vasquez home on a sacrifice fly, 2-0 ENMU.

Oklahoma Christian surged into the lead with the long ball. During the third inning, a solo home run cut the lead to 2-1 ENMU. Then a three-run home run in the 4th inning leaped the Eagles into the lead over ENMU, 4-2. During the net frame, ENMU cut the lead to 4-3. Patterson began the inning with a triple to deep center field, and Vasquez followed with a sacrifice fly.
 
Both teams had opportunities to add to the lead in the 6th inning but were not able to push any runners across. The final inning, each pitcher delivered a 1-2-3 inning to secure a victory for Oklahoma Christian.

NOTABLE STATS

  • Both teams with eight hits, with the Greyhounds providing four extra base hits and OC finishing with a pair of home runs.
  • Patterson and Gutierrez each finished with a pair of hits, while Vasquez, Gutierrez, and Marissa Rodriguez each had a double.
  • In the circle, Rodriguez was dealt the loss pitching all seven innings for Eastern with four runs allowed with a pair of strikeouts.
  • Jill Dickson drew the win for the Eagles, tossing 5.2 innings with three runs allowed on eight hits with six K's. Kadence Brewster earned a save, retiring the four batters they faced.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Today we had two hard fought games on both sides of the ball," said Head ENMU Softball Coach Amanda Fefel. "Jordan Rivera threw a great game one after settling down in the first inning. Defensively, we made some great plays all around that kept OC off the bases," said Fefel. "Mikenzey Patterson, Grace Rofii, Samantha Gutierrez, and Alondra Vasquez all had quality at bats today. In game one, Cecy Jurado and Skylar Hardin did a phenomenal job coming in clutch as pinch hitters to secure the win for us," said Fefel.


BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • Eastern beat the Eagles for the first time at home in program history, with both teams playing for the 5th and 6th times in Portales.
  • Rivera fired a career long 8.0 innings pitched during the series opener, along with their third complete game of the season.
  • Patterson recorded their seventh triple of the season, tying the third most in a single season by a Greyhound.
  • Eastern wraps up the series against the Eagles on Sunday, April. 14, beginning at 12 p.m. from Greyhound Softball Field.