PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Softball travels to Tyler, Texas to face reigning national champions, #1 UT Tyler in an LSC doubleheader on Friday, March 7. The opening game is set for 2 p.m. (MST), while the second game is scheduled for 4 p.m. (MST).

TUNE IN

• The LSC doubleheader 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 purchase for the games on Friday, with a general admission ticket costing $8: UTT Tickets
• Live statistics will be available via Sidearm for both games: ENMU vs #1 UTT Live Stats

SERIES INSIGHT

• Every meeting for the two teams have come as conference opponents, as UTT leads the all-time series 10-1. The Greyhounds lone win did come in conference play, as the Patriots have a 9-1 LSC record.
• The last meeting between the teams occurred during 2024 LSC Tournament, where the Patriots took the quarterfinal matchup, 4-3. A late two-run home run from Grace Rofii cut the lead to just one run in the 6^th, but the Patriots held on to claim victory.
• In last season's three-game series, Eastern New Mexico claimed their first ever win over the Patriots, doing so on the road. After UT Tyler won the opening game, 2-0, ENMU responded with a 3-2 victory over UTT. Marissa Rodriguez pitched a complete game in the victory, while hitting a solo home run. The Patriots captured the series with an 8-2 series finale win.
• Of the Greyhounds 13 total runs scored against UT Tyler in series history, eight of them were scored in 2024.
• The teams first met in 2021, with the Patriots taking a doubleheader sweep of the Greyhounds, 11-0 and 15-0.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS

• Eastern enter the road trip off the back of a home shutout over #18 Oklahoma Christian, 6-0. Eastern scored all six runs over the final three innings to secure a split with the nationally ranked Eagles. Overall, Eastern holds a 14-8 record, standing 7-5 in LSC play.
• The Greyhounds bats provide a .321 batting average, finding 158 runs this season with 201 hits, scoring 158 runs with 201 hits. Eastern has accumulated 141 RBIs, while posting 39 doubles, six triples, and 25 home runs. In the circle, Eastern holds a 3.94 ERA, striking out 121 hitters with 105 runs allowed, on 155 hits.
• Aylene Lucero leads ENMU offensively in almost all categories, with 34 hits, 29 runs, 26 RBIs, and a .472 batting average. Valeria Contreras holds a .408 batting average with 24 RBIs, while Alondra Vasquez has driven in 24 runs with seven home runs.
• Jordan Rivera posted their second game complete game shutout of the season in their last game, leading the team in innings pitched (48.1) and strikeouts (49). Miranda Guillen has the best ERA on the team, 3.36, with a 4-3 record and 43 strikeouts.

SCOUTING THE #1 PATRIOTS

• Winning their first Division II National Championship in 2024, the Patriots are the #1 team in the nation for the 5^th consecutive week, based on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll. Overall, UTT have a 19-2 record with a 10-2 conference record.
• Statistically, UT Tyler is second in the LSC for both batting average (.356) and ERA (1.56). The Patriots have scored 172 runs from 202 hits, hitting 22 home runs with 43 doubles. UTT has allowed only 38 runs this season, with 152 strikeouts, and holding opposing batters to a .195 batting average.
• Both JT Smith and Ka'Lyn Watson are batting over .500 this season, with Smith leading the team in hits (33) and runs scored (35). Bailey Krolczyk leads the team with 27 RBIs, along with five home runs. Smith paces the squad with seven stolen bases, while Sam Schott has 22 hits, and 21 runs scored.
• Primrose Aholelei paces the team with a 9-0 record this season, throwing over 60.2 innings with 75 strikeouts. Kaylee Davis has a 4-0 record in 11 relief appearances, leading the team with a 0.56 ERA over 25.0 innings. Cera Blanchard is the other starter for UTT, making 10 starts this season with a 1.51 ERA.