ALPINE, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Softball wrapped up the regular season with a 30-24 record, along with a 23-21 conference standing, following a two-game sweep of Sul Ross State on the road Sunday afternoon at Lobo Softball Field. The Greyhounds bats were hot in the opening game, winning 11-1 on 17 hits, while ENMU controlled throughout in game two, winning 12-4.
GAME ONE: ENMU 11, SRSU 1
Eastern started quickly with two runs in the first inning, with
Meilana Lopez and
Skylar Hardin collecting RBIs. The scoring continued in the second with four straight base hits and a sacrifice fly scoring three runs.
Ramona Fossum started the inning with a single, then back-to-back doubles from
Aylene Lucero and
Valeria Contreras, while
Alondra Vasquez followed with a single.
Emily Marsh crushed a solo bomb to left center to score a run in the third, then back-to-back hits from Fossum and Lucero scored another run, as ENMU took a 7-0 lead. Sul Ross State broke up the shutout with a two-out single in the 4
th, but the Greyhounds responded with one run in the 5
th and three more in the 7
th to take a 11-1 advantage. In the 7
th, Lopez started the inning with a home run, then Fossum and Lucero both brought in a run each with an RBI base hit.
NOTABLE STATS
- Eastern amassed a season high 17 hits, with seven going for extra bases. Lucero finished 4-5 at the dish, hitting three doubles and scoring twice. Four other Greyhounds had multiple hits, including Hardin and Fossum who each finished with three. Fossum scored a team high three runs.
- Lucero's three doubles were a new career high and the second most in a single game in program history. Four hits for Lucero ties a personal best, doing so twice this season.
- Fossum set a personal best for runs scored in a game (3), while Hardin produced three base hits for the second time in their career.
- Miranda Guillen gets the win in another complete game effort, moving to 15-5 on the season. The freshman allowed six hits (five singles, one double) striking out three batters.
GAME TWO: ENMU 12, SRSU 4
Vasquez wasted no time to get ENMU on the board, ripping a solo home run over the left center fence. After SRSU tied the game with a run in the first inning, Eastern put up four runs in the third frame. With two runners on, Lopez hit a double to deep left center to plate two runs.
Grace Rofii followed with their own RBI double, then Hardin also had an RBI double, giving the Greyhounds a 5-1 lead. ENMU increased their lead in the 4
th, with RBI hits from Vasquez and Lopez, going in front 7-1.
The Lobos replied with a run in the 5
th, but the Greyhounds tacked on four runs in the 6
th inning. Three walks to start the inning loaded the bases, then Lopez brought all the runner home with a triple down the right field line. Hardin brought home Lopez two batters later with a single, giving the Hounds a 11-2 lead. The Lobos extended the game with two runs in the bottom of the inning, while ENMU picked up one last run in the 7
th to confirm a 12-4 victory.
NOTABLE STATS
- Eastern found 13 hits against the Lobos, scoring 12 runs and benefited from seven walks. All three of Lopez' hits went for extra bases (two doubles, one triple) accounting for six of the Greyhounds 11 RBIs.
- Contreras and Vasquez both scored three times, each walking twice. Vasquez finished with a pair of hits, along with two RBIs. Hardin grabbed three hits for the second straight game, the third time in their career.
- Jordan Rivera earned the victory in the circle, throwing 5.1 innings with five hits allowed and four runs. Marissa Rodriguez finished the game, going 1.2 innings with just two hits allowed.
- With both wins, Head ENMU Softball Coach Amanda Fefel earned their 100th career victory with the program. This season, the Hounds recorded the most wins in a season (30) since 2006, while their sixth-place finish in the standings is the highest finish since 2002.
Eastern now turn their attention to the conference tournament, as ENMU will meet Angelo State in a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, May 1, at 10 a.m. (CST). The tournament with be hosted by top seeded West Texas A&M, in Canyon, Texas.
