ODESSA, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Softball secured postseason play following a pair of shutouts against UT Permian Basin on Friday afternoon at UTPB Softball Park. During the opening game, the Greyhounds struck with five runs in the first inning as they held off the Falcons for a 5-0 win. In the second game, ENMU took advantage of a three-run frame midway through the game, while scoring a few insurance runs late, winning 6-0.
GAME ONE: ENMU 5, UTPB 0
The Greyhounds wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, putting up five runs in the first inning.
Aylene Lucero started the game off with a walk, then
Christina Meneses followed with a walk to get two base runners on with one out. After a double steal,
Alondra Vasquez doubled to right-center to give the Greyhounds a 2-0 lead.
Meilana Lopez followed with a walk, then
Ramona Fossum had a 2-RBI double of their own, pulling a ball down the left field line to score two runs. Fossum later came around to score on a throwing error from the catcher, giving ENMU a 5-0 lead after the first half inning.
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In the circle, that was all the run support
Miranda Guillen needed as they tossed seven shutout innings. The freshman worked three of 1-2-3 innings in the 1
st, 3
rd, and 4
th innings, while the Greyhounds defense made plays in the infield to keep the Falcons at bay. No runner for the Falcons advanced past second base during the game, with just five singles and two hit-by-pitches allowed by Guillen. The Greyhounds defense made plays on 10 ground outs and 11 flyouts, as shortstop
Valeria Contreras finished with four putouts and five assists. Â
NOTABLE STATS
- The Greyhounds outhit the Falcons, 7-5, as three hits occurred in the five-run 1st inning. Fossum and Vasquez' doubles were the only extra base hits of the game, while Contreras finished with two sacrifice hits.
- Guillen earned the win for the Greyhounds, throwing their 4th complete game shutout of the season. The win moves Guillen to 14-5 on the season, lowering their ERA to 3.32.
- Lalia Vasquez takes the loss, allowing five runs on two hits and three walks. Meghan Gattis pitched the other 6.2 innings, allowing no runs on five hits and one walk.
GAME TWO: ENMU 6, UTPB 0
Following two blank innings to start the game, Eastern New Mexico opened the scoring with a run in the 3rd inning. Contreras started the inning with a single, then advanced to second on a stolen base. A sacrifice bunt moved Contreras to 3
rd base, then Meneses brought home Contreras with a sacrifice fly. The Hounds came back for more in the 4
th inning, plating three runs. Lopez opened the frame with a walk, then moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Grace Rofii singled to put runners on the corners, then
Skylar Hardin grabbed an RBI single to score Lopez. Hardin moved up to second with a stolen base, then Contreras had an infield single to score a run. Hardin later came home on a wild pitch, pushing the ENMU lead to 4-0.
The Greyhounds defense kept the Falcons in check with a handful of singles over the first few inning. Eastern turned a 6-4-3 double play in the 3
rd inning and a 5-4-3 double play in the 4
th to eliminate any run scoring threat. ENMU scored two insurance runs in the 7
th inning, with Lucero starting the frame with a solo home run to center field. Contreras later reached on an error, stole second, then scored on a throwing error by the catcher. ENMU recorded the final three outs to win the game 6-0 over the Falcons.
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NOTABLE STATS
- The Greyhounds finished with eight hits, with Lucero's home run being the only extra base hit in the game. Four different Greyhounds recorded a sacrifice hit, while the team turned two double plays with no errors in the field.
- Rodriguez tossed just their second complete game of the season, and first complete game shutout. The pitcher allowed just six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
- Emery Aguilar went all seven innings for the Falcons, allowing eight hits, six runs, three walks, with two strikeouts.
- Eastern stole five bases during the second game, landing in the top ten in a single game in program history. Contreras set a career best for stolen bases with three, the second most in a single game by a Greyhound.
- With the wins, Eastern secured postseason play for the for the third consecutive season and the 5th time ever in program history.
Eastern plays their final games of the regular season on Sunday, April 27, traveling to Alpine, Texas to face Sul Ross State. The first game of the series is expected to begin at 12 p.m. (MST), with the second game set for 2 p.m. (MST).
