PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball play their final non-conference weekend of the season, heading to Canyon, Texas to play in the WT Invitational. The Greyhounds begin the weekend on Friday, February 7, facing Lincoln (Mo.) at 8 a.m. (MST) / 9 a.m. (CST), shortly after the Greyhounds face UCCS at 10:15 a.m. (MST) / 11:15 a.m. (CST). The following day, Saturday, February 8, Eastern New Mexico battles Minnesota State – Moorhead, with first pitch scheduled for 10:15 a.m. (MST) / 11:15 a.m. (CST), later that evening ENMU face Lincoln (Mo.) at 5 p.m. (MST) / 6 p.m. (CST). Eastern concludes its trip to Canyon on Sunday, February 9, battling Minnesota State – Moorhead at 8 a.m. (MST) / 9 a.m. (CST).

TUNE IN

• The four-game series will be broadcast on FloCollege. FloCollege is the central location to watch Lone Star Conference live and on-demand events, offering a $14.99 per month pass or $99.99 per year pass. Additionally, those who use a .edu email address from an LSC member institution will be able to sign up at a discounted subscription price of $9.99 per month or $69.99 for the year.
• Tickets are available for every game over the WT Invitational, with 15 games being played over three days. A general admission day pass costs $10, with tickets available at the door and online (no cash sales): WT Tickets
• Live stats will be available for each contest this week via StatBroadcast: 2/7 ENMU vs LIN | 2/7 ENMU vs UCCS | 2/8 ENMU vs MSUM | 2/8 ENMU vs LIN | 2/9 ENMU vs MSUM

SERIES INSIGHT

• Eastern New Mexico will be facing Lincoln (Mo.) and Minnesota State – Moorhead for the first time in program history. Lincoln (Mo.) is based in Jefferson City, Mo., recently joining the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), after spending time in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). MSU-Moorhead comes from Moorhead, Minn., competing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
• The Greyhounds recently played UCCS in a high scoring game, with the Mountain Lions taking the game 10-9 over ENMU in eight innings. In the all-time series, the teams are tied at seven wins each.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS 

• Eastern New Mexico began its season at the South-Central Region Crossover, going 4-1 over the weekend. The Greyhounds had a pair of run rule wins, 16-0 (5 Inn.) over New Mexico Highlands and against Adams State, 15-1 (5 Inn.). ENMU closed out the weekend with a 5-0 win over New Mexico Highlands.
• Aylene Lucero led the offense with 11 hits and 11 RBIs over the weekend, picking up four doubles and a home run. Christina Meneses (.692 BA) and Valeria Contreras (.533 BA) also played big parts in the Greyhounds offense. Alondra Vasquez supplied two home runs over the weekend with seven RBIs.
• In the circle, Miranda Guillen went 2-0 over the weekend, tossing nine innings without allowing a run to cross the plate. Jordan Rivera also picked up a win, striking out 19 batters over 11.2 innings pitched. Marissa Rodriguez made three appearances, earning a win and a save in 9.0 innings.

SCOUTING THE BLUE TIGERS

• Lincoln (Mo.) join the GLVC after going 13-35 in 2024, with a 4-22 MIAA record. The Blue Lions were projected to finish 15^th in GLVC preseason poll.  LIN brings back its top two hitters last season, including Abbi Conard, who led the team in hits (49), batting average (.340), and RBIs (23). Maris Ollison also returns to the lineup after batting .282 in 2024. In the circle, Abby Pulliam (3.96 ERA) and Mallorey Rogers (5.36 ERA, 79.2 IP, 41 SO) both return to the pitching staff.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN LIONS

• Playing at the same tournament as the Greyhounds in the opening weekend, UCCS finished with a 3-1 record, winning their opening three games. The Mountain Lions beat Sul Ross State, 17-1, then captured one run wins over Eastern New Mexico (10-9, 8 Inn) and Western New Mexico (7-6). The only loss came against #13 West Texas A&M (13-2, 5 Inn.).
• Catcher Katie Steinmetz leads the team with a .667 batting average over the opening weekend, compiling six hits with a home run and four RBIs. Gianna Pancost, Mackenzie Scott, and Hailey Redd each also have six hits, while Pancost and Laynee Case are the team's leaders in RBIs (5).
• Hannah Hunt has a pair of wins in the circle for UCCS, pitching 11.2 innings with nine strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA. Autumn Kunze has the other win for the Mountain Lions, leading the team in strikeouts with 11 over seven innings.

SCOUTING THE DRAGONS

• Minnesota State – Moorhead comes to Texas with a 4-2 record after the opening weekend, defeating Minot State, UMary, and sweeping Black Hills State in a doubleheader. Five of the Dragons six games this season have been decided by three runs or less, with the exception being the 10-1 (5 Inn.) win over UMary.
• Avery Steffen leads the Dragons in a batter's box and in the circle, sporting a .632 batting average and 1.40 ERA. Steffen's 12 hits, including three doubles and two triples, while scoring a team best seven times, and eight stolen bases. In the circle, Steffen was recently named NSIC Pitcher of the Week, going 3-0 across 20 innings pitched with 24 strikeouts.
• Lexie Wilson has a team high five RBIs, hitting a pair of home runs, batting .333 after the opening weekend. Eliya Johnson's seven base hits are second on the team, holding a .368 batting average. Teagan Clemmons is the other key pitcher for MSUM, tossing 13.0 inning with a 1.62 ERA and 10 strikeouts.