PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball starts the 2025 season in Los Lunas, N.M. as part of the South Central Region Challenge, hosted by Western N.M. The tournament will feature 8 different programs, playing in 20 games total, with ENMU having five matchups. First, the Greyhounds begin the season against Simon Fraser (3 p.m.) and UCCS (5:30 p.m.) on Friday, Jan. 31, to begin the season. The next day, ENMU play another doubleheader facing New Mexico Highlands (3 p.m.) and Adams State (5:30 p.m.), Saturday, Feb. 1. Eastern end the weekend against New Mexico Highlands on Sunday, Feb. 2, at 12:30 p.m.

TUNE IN

• Eastern New Mexico will play their opening weekend games at the Los Lunas Sports Complex (Los Lunas Sports Complex, 1601 HWY 314, Los Lunas, NM 87031). All games during the weekend will be held at Field #2. General admission for games is $10 for single day access, while a weekend pass costs $25. Cash and credit/debit cards will be accepted.
• Live stats will be available for each contest this week via StatBroadcast: 1/31 ENMU vs SFU | 1/31 ENMU vs UCCS | 2/1 ENMU vs NMHU | 2/1 ENMU vs ADSU | 2/2 ENMU vs NMHU

SERIES INSIGHT

• ENMU and SFU meet for only the third time in series history, with the all-time series standing at 1-1. Eastern won the first meeting in 2020 (5-4, 2/14/20 in Tucson, Ariz.), while the Red Leafs won the last meeting 7-3 (2/18/22 in Tucson, Ariz.).
• The Greyhounds have won four straight games against the Mountain Lions, including both meetings last season. ENMU is 7-6 all-time against UCCS, outscoring the Mountain Lions 20-5 combined in both games from last season (11-3 (5 Inn.) 2/2/24 and 9-2, 2/9/24).
• Eastern New Mexico meet with in-state rival New Mexico Highlands for the 65^th and 66^th time in program history. The Greyhounds hold a 36-28 record against NMHU, but the Cowgirls have won the last two meetings.
• All-time against Adams State, the Greyhounds have a 13-5 series advantage. ENMU has won four of the last five games against the Grizzlies, including last season's meeting in Los Lunas, N.M. (19-1 (5 Inn.), 2/3/24).

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS 

• The Greyhounds posted a 26-26 overall record in 2024, reaching the LSC Quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. In the LSC Softball Preseason Poll, the Greyhounds landed in 10^th, while Alondra Vasquez and Marissa Rodriguez were listed as preseason players/pitchers to watch. Vasquez batted .335, with a team best 13 home runs and 51 RBIs, playing multiple positions. Rodriguez paced the Eastern pitching staff with a 3.22 ERA and 13 complete games in 148.0 innings.  

SCOUTING THE RED LEAFS

• Simon Fraser was recently listed 6^th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) preseason poll. The Red Leafs come off 11-31 season, as Janique Balaen led SFU with a .327 batting average with 35 hits. Simon Fraser also return hits leader (Grace McMillian, 46) and RBI leader (Kristen Davyduke, 17) to the batting lineup. Three of the Red Leafs pitching rotation return to the team, including Monica Bourque after leading the team in wins (5), strikeouts (49), and innings pitched (112.2) in 2024.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN LIONS

• UCCS heads to Los Lunas following a 19-32 campaign in 2025. In the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) preseason poll, the Mountain Lions were projected to finish 6^th. In addition to the poll, Gianna Pancost was listed as a preseason player to watch. The catcher/utility led the team with a .394 batting average, .470 on-base percentage, and .578 slugging percentage last season. In the circle, UCCS brought back its top two arms, responsible for 18 of its nineteen wins last seasons (Autumn Kunze, 3.95 ERA, 11-10, and Kailey Bond, 5.03 ERA, 7-11).

SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS

• Following a 16-31 season, new head coach Marc Benjamin will lead the Cowgirls in his first season with the program. Benjamin returns leading hitter Karla Banegas after hitting .364 in 2024. In the RMAC preseason poll, the Cowgirls were slated 11^th of 12. Banegas also earned a pair of wins in the circle, pitching in 14 games. Jazmyn Griego, Hevan Medina, and Alessandra DeLaTrinidad return to the squad after being consistent figures in the Cowgirls lineup.

SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES

• The Grizzlies finished 12^th in the RMAC preseason poll, following a 5-48 record in 2024. Aubree Davis was recognized as a RMAC Preseason Player to Watch, tossing 19 complete games in the circle with 59 strikeouts in 142.2 innings. Grace Hendrickson returns as the top bat in the Adams State lineup, posting a .330 batting average with 38 hits in 2024. Caylie Eiguren (.301 BA and 32 RBIs) and Sydney Rodriguez (22 hits 17 RBIs) also return to the lineup after making over 40 appearances each in 2024.