CANYON, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Softball split a pair of one run games during the first day of the WT Invitational. In the opening game, the Greyhounds came back from a 6-0 deficit to beat Lincoln (Mo.) (0-2), 7-6. In the second game, Eastern mounted another comeback, but fell just short, 8-7, against UCCS (4-2).
GAME ONE: ENMU 7, LIN 6
The Greyhounds entered the bottom of the 5
th inning trailing 6-0, and by the end of the 5
th frame Eastern was ahead 7-6. Lincoln (Mo.) first took the lead in the 4
th inning with a run, then scored five runs in the top of the 5
th inning to hold a big lead. However, the Greyhounds stormed back with seven runs in just one inning to take their first lead of the day.
Aylene Lucero singled to get ENMU on the board, then
Alondra Vasquez homered with the bases loaded to cut the game to 6-5 LIN. After a walk, a Blue Tigers throwing error brought home the tying run and positioned the go ahead run at third base. A sacrifice fly from
Miranda Guillen pushed ENMU infront, and the Greyhounds held on in the final two innings to secure the win.
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NOTABLE STATS
- Eastern scored seven runs from just six hits, while Lincoln (Mo.) finished with 10 hits during the game.
- Lucero and Valeria Contreras both finished with a pair of hits, while Vasquez collected four RBIs.
- In the circle, Marissa Rodriguez (4.1 IP, 5 ER) took a no-decision after starting the game, while Cierra Smith earned the win in 1.1 innings. Jordan Rivera recorded the final two outs to earn the save.
- The Greyhounds and Blue Tigers faced each other for the first time in program history.
GAME TWO: UCCS 8, ENMU 7
The Mountain Lions took advantage of an ENMU error to score four unearned runs in the first inning, taking a 4-0 lead. The Greyhounds brought the lead to just one run in the middle of the 4
th, scoring twice in the 3
rd inning and once in the 4
th. Contreras doubled to begin the inning, then later scored on a throwing error from UCCS.
Christina Meneses brought home a run with an RBI double, then Contreras supplied an RBI single in the 4
th. However, UCCS strengthened their lead with a four-run 4
th inning. In the sixth inning, Eastern put up four runs to come within one, as a 2-RBI double from Lucero and a 2-run home run from Contreras did the damage. Eastern did have a chance to extend the game, getting the tying and go ahead run on base in the 7
th, but UCCS got out of the jam to win the game.
NOTABLE STATS
- Eastern outhit the Mountain Lions, 12-7, posting six extra base hits during the game.
- Lucero and Contreras registered a trio of hits, while Contreras had a team best three RBIs. Meneses and Grace Rofii each supplied two hits, including one double each.
- In the circle, Guillen was charged for all eight runs (four earned) over 3.1 innings with two strikeouts. Jordan Rivera threw the remaining 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit in that time.
The Greyhounds return to the field tomorrow morning to face Minnesota State – Moorhead and Lincoln (Mo.).  Eastern's first game is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. (MST)/11:15 a.m. (CST), while ENMU faces Lincoln (Mo.) later in the day, 5 p.m. (MST)/6 p.m. (CST).