PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball got back on track with a pair of victories over Sul Ross State on Friday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. In the opening game, Eastern scored runs early during a 9-2 win over SRSU, while the Greyhounds allowed just one hit during a 4-0 win over the Lobos in game two.

GAME ONE: ENMU 9, SRSU 2

After a quick 1-2-3 half inning to start the game, Eastern got on the score board with three runs in the 1^st frame. The Greyhounds loaded the bases with two hit-by-pitch's and a single, allowing Miranda Guillen to bring home a run on an RBI groundout. Grace Rofii followed with a two-RBI single. ENMU came back with two runs in the second, with Emily Marsh tripling home a run, then scoring a groundout.

Sul Ross State scored their first runs of the game in the third inning, as a two-RBI single scored the runs with two outs. ENMU replied with three runs of their own in the 3^rd inning, with Christina Meneses starting the inning with a ground-rule double. Rofii later singled Meneses home, then ENMU scored on a bases loaded walk and bases loaded hit by pitch. Eastern grabbed one more insurance run in the 5^th inning, as Marsh led-off the inning with a single, then Aylene Lucero tripled to right-center to score the run.

NOTABLE STATS

• Eastern finished the game with eight hits coming from six different hitters, as Marsh and Rofii had a pair of base hits. Marsh and Lucero finished with a triple each, while Meneses added a double. ENMU drew five hit-by-pitch's during the game, while Rofii and Lucero led the Greyhounds with three RBIs each.
• Guillen tossed a complete game in the circle, working around six hits and one walk, surrendering two unearned runs with eight strikeouts.
• For the Lobos, Janelle Leanos started the game, allowing three runs from two hits in one inning. Loren Loveless had pitched 1.1 innings, allowing five runs, while Hannah Clark pitched the final 3.2 frames, allowing one run from two hits.

GAME TWO: ENMU 4, SRSU 0

After having runners reach third base in the first two innings, ENMU came around to score the first run in the third inning. Valeria Contreras led off with a triple to deep right field, then came around the score on an RBI groundout from Meneses.

The Greyhound pitching held Sul Ross State hitless over the first five innings, as Eastern picked up three runs in the bottom of the 5^th. Marissa Rodriguez doubled to center field, then Lucero followed with a bunt single. Contreras sliced a ball through the right side to score a run, then Meneses drove in another run with a single. Rofii concluded the scoring for the Hounds, as their RBI single brought Contreras home. The Greyhounds pitching took a no-hitter in the 7^th inning, but a leadoff single broke up the no-hit bid. ENMU retired the next three batters in a row to complete the 4-0 victory.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Greyhounds supplied nine hits to the Lobos one, accounting for a pair of extra base hits. Eight different batters had a hit, with Contreras contributing two hits. Meneses supplied two RBIs, while Contreras and Rofii each picked up an RBI.
• Jordan Rivera started the game for ENMU, allowing just four base runners (two hit-by-pitch, two walks) over 4.0 innings in a winning effort. Rodriguez twirled the final three frames, earning a save with only one batter reaching base.
• Alyvia Quintana tossed five innings in the circle for the Lobos, surrendering four runs from nine hits. Larryn Rooks finished the game for Sul Ross, throwing one inning.

The Greyhounds are back on the diamond on Sunday, March 23, welcoming UT Permian Basin for a doubleheader. The first game of the series is expected at 1 p.m., with the second game set for 3 p.m.