PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball blanked UT Permian Basin in a pair of games on Sunday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. In the opening game of the doubleheader,
Miranda Guillen struck out 13 batters during a 4-0 shutout, while in the second game, Jordan Riviera and
Marissa Rodriguez combined to give the Greyhounds back-to-back shutouts in a 6-0 victory.
GAME ONE: ENMU 4, UTPB 0
After squandering a bases loaded chance in the first inning, the Greyhounds put up the first runs of the game in the third inning.
Aylene Lucero started the inning with a single, then
Valeria Contreras reached base to on an error to put runners on the corners.
Christina Meneses brought in both runners with a double to left field, as ENMU took a 2-0 lead.
Â
The Falcons did threaten with a runner on third base in the sixth, bringing the tying run to the plate. However, Guillen struck out the side to end the inning. Eastern scored a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the frame, as
Meilana Lopez singled to begin the 6
th inning. Two batters later,
Emily Marsh crushed a home run to left field to double the Greyhounds advantage, 4-0. Guillen struck out two of the final three batters, confirming a 4-0 win.
Â
NOTABLE STATS
- ENMU out hit the Falcons, 7-3, with Marsh and Meneses both providing an extra base hit and two RBIs each. Lucero and Meneses had multiple hits in the game, with four different Greyhounds scoring a run. All three of the Falcons hits were singles, with one escaping the infield.
- Guillen struck out 13 batters in a shutout performance, recording five innings with at least two strikeouts, and three 1-2-3 innings. The Freshman tied a career best with 13 strikeouts, doing so in 104 pitches with four fly outs and three groundouts.
- For the Falcons, Jessica Cantrell takes the loss allowing four runs over six innings. Cantrell allowed seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
GAME TWO: ENMU 6, UTPB 0
Lucero put the Greyhounds on the board in the third inning with a first pitch two-run home run to left. Lopez began the inning with a single through the right side then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lucero provided the power to give ENMU a 2-0 lead. Later, Contreras singled then Meneses and
Alondra Vasquez walked to load the bases.
Grace Rofii forced home a run with an RBI groundout, giving ENMU a 3-0 lead after the first three innings.
Â
Eastern scored three runs in their final inning to bat, leading 6-0 after six innings.
Marissa Rodriguez started the inning with a double down the right field line, then an error put two runners in scoring position and no outs. A walk loaded the bases, as Meneses drilled a single through the right side to plate a pair of runs. Vasquez followed with a sacrifice fly to conclude the ENMU scoring, as the Greyhounds finished with a 6-0 win.
Â
NOTABLE STATS
- ENMU just piped the Falcons for hits, 7-6, with ENMU holding a pair of extra base hits. Six different batters finished with a base hit, as Meneses had two hits and two RBIs. Lucero grabbed two RBIs, scoring twice, while Vasquez drew two walks along with a sacrifice fly.
- Jordan Rivera started the game, earning the win, giving up five hits with one walk and one strikeout over four innings. Rodriguez earned a save out of the bullpen, allowing just one base hit over three innings.
- Emery Aguilar takes the loss for the Falcons, allowing six hits over five innings, giving up eight walks. Meghan Gattis pitched the final inning, giving up one hit.
- Eastern has now won eight straight games against the Falcons, dating back to 2023.
Eastern stays at home for their next games, facing #3 West Texas A&M in a two-game series on Friday, March 28. The first game of the series is expected at 2 p.m., with the second game set for 4 p.m.
