PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball dropped two games against #3 West Texas A&M on Friday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. West Texas scored six runs over the final two innings to take the first game, 7-2, while ENMU fell in the second game, 14-1 (5 Inn.).

GAME ONE: #3 WT 7, ENMU 2

West Texas A&M struck first in the opening inning, with two runners on second and third with one out. A flyout to left prompted the runner on third to go home, scoring after an obstruction call at home plate. The Greyhounds did tie the game later in the third inning, combing a pair of hits with two outs. Aylene Lucero kept the inning going with a double to left center, then scored after a single to center field from Valeria Contreras.

Both teams were playing solid defense as the game continued, but the Lady Buffs broke the tie score in the 6^th inning. A sacrifice fly brought the score to 2-1, then a two-run homer put WT ahead 4-1. The Greyhounds responded with an RBI single from Alondra Vasquez in the bottom of the inning, but three solo home runs in the 7th inning led WT to a 7-2 win over ENMU.

NOTABLE STATS

• Six different Greyhounds supplied a hit in the game, while Lucero and Christina Meneses both picked up doubled in the game.
• Marissa Rodriguez gets the loss in the circle, giving up five runs in six innings of work for ENMU. Ciara Loken was charged two runs, while Jordan Rivera surrendered one hit over 0.2 IP.
• Emilee Boyer tossed a complete game in the circle, striking out seven batters, with six hits and two earned runs.

GAME TWO: #3 WT 14, ENMU 1 (5 Inn.)

Both teams scored a run in the first inning, with WT taking the first pitch of the game out of the park for a solo home run. ENMU scored their run playing small ball, with Lucero reaching a single, then moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Meneses supplied the RBI single to tie the game, 1-1, after the first inning.

However, from then West Texas A&M took advantage of the long ball, scoring three runs in the 3^rd, six runs in the 4^th, and four runs in the 5^th. WT went ahead with a solo home run in the 3^rd, then followed by a two-run HR to take a 4-1 lead. The Lady Buffs supplied six runs on two hits in the 4^th, taking advantage of four walks in the frame. In the 5^th, WT picked up four runs on four hits, all singles to take the game 14-1.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Lady Buffs outhit ENMU, 10-5, as five different batters picked up a hit for ENMU. Alexa Ayala, Meilana Lopez, and Emily Marsh all had singles along with Lucero and Meneses.
• Four different Greyhounds entered the circle, with Miranda Guillen starting the game and taking the loss, allowing four runs from four hits. Cierra Smith faced seven batters, while Maggie Smith got the final out of the 4^th inning, and Jordan Rivera pitched the 5^th frame.
• Heidi Vortherms earned the win for WT, going three innings, with one run, and four hits. Ashley Mandell pitched a scoreless final two innings.

Eastern continue the home stretch on Sunday, March 30, facing Midwestern State in a West Division doubleheader. The first game of the series is expected at 1 p.m., with the second game set for 3 p.m.