RICHARDSON, Texas - The Eastern New Mexico softball team split a doubleheader with UT Dallas on Friday evening, taking game one 9-6 before dropping a heart breaker in game two, 8-7, in walk-off fashion at the UT Dallas Softball Field.

Game 1: ENMU 9, UT Dallas 6

The Greyhounds jumped out to an early lead in game one as Kayla Campbell launched a two-run home run to left center in the top of the second inning, giving ENMU a 2-0 advantage. The Comets responded quickly, however, as their offense came alive to score four runs in the bottom of the second and third innings combined to take a 4-2 lead.

Eastern New Mexico answered in the top of the fourth inning, scoring four runs off a hit and a UT Dallas error to reclaim the lead at 6-4. The Comets cut into the deficit with a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-5, but the Greyhounds pulled away with a three-run sixth inning.

Christina Meneses opened the sixth with a solo home run to extend the lead to 7-5. Emily Marsh followed with a double before Marissa Rodriguez drove her home with a single to right field, pushing the advantage to 8-5. With the bases loaded, Natalie Rodarte was hit by a pitch to bring home another run, giving ENMU a commanding 9-5 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

UT Dallas managed to score one run in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough as the Greyhounds held on for the 9-6 victory.

Meneses paced the Greyhounds' offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Rodarte, Talia Martin, Giazza Lopez, Marsh, Lorissa Scott, Rodriguez, Campbell and Samantha Parisi each recorded one hit for ENMU. Campbell's two-run homerun and Marsh's double provided the extra-base hits for the Greyhounds.

As a team, Eastern finished with nine hits and capitalized on UT Dallas errors to score nine runs.

Miranda Guillen received the start for the Hounds, giving up four runs off five hits while walking four batters in 2.0 innings pitched. Rodriguez stepped in as relief and earned the win, improving to 3-0 on the season after surrendering two runs off four hits with two strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.

Game 2: ENMU 7, UT Dallas 8

The nightcap proved to be a back-and-forth affair that came down to the final at-bat.

Eastern struck first as Rodarte walked and stole second base before Meneses brought her home with a fielders choice to second base, giving the Greyhounds a 1-0 lead. UT Dallas answered with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 advantage.

The Greyhounds regained the lead with two runs in the top of the second inning to go ahead 3-2, but the Comets tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the bottom of the third. ENMU responded with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to build a 6-3 lead.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the bottom of the sixth inning when UT Dallas scored four runs off four hits to take a 7-6 lead heading into the final frame.

A fielding error in the top of the seventh gave the Greyhounds new life as they tied the game at 7-7, forcing extra drama in the bottom half of the inning. UT Dallas's McKenna Holm delivered the decisive blow with a walk-off single down the left field line to give the Comets an 8-7 victory.

Angelina Rodriguez earned the start in game two for the Hounds, giving up six runs off five hits while striking out five Comets in 5.1 innings pitched. Jordan Rivera surrendered one run off two hits in relief, while Lopez received the loss for the Hounds in 0.2 innings of work.

With the split, Eastern New Mexico will look to bounce back next weekend when they travel to face Sul Ross State on March 6 before heading to Western New Mexico on March 8.