PORTALES, N.M. - Eastern New Mexico softball split a doubleheader with UT Dallas on Sunday afternoon at the Greyhound Softball Field. The Greyhounds won game one 13-1 in five innings before falling in the nightcap, 6-4.
 
Eastern New Mexico is now 15-22 overall and 11-19 in Lone Star Conference play. UT Dallas moves to 13-27 overall and 11-21 in league action. The all-time series between the two programs is now tied at 2-2.

GAME 1: ENMU 13, UT Dallas 1 (5 Inn.)

Giazza Lopez powered the Greyhounds to a run-rule victory in the opener, going 2-for-3 with a grand slam and five RBI. Lopez's fourth-inning blast highlighted an offensive explosion that saw ENMU score 10 runs in the first three innings.
 
Parisi finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base, while Kayla Campbell went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the fourth inning and three RBI. Martin also recorded two hits in the contest. Christina Meneses drove in three runs despite only recording one hit, using productive at-bats to manufacture offense.
 
Natalie Rodarte contributed one hit and scored twice for the Greyhounds.
 
Rodriguez (8-2) dominated in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on two hits. The right-hander struck out five batters and faced just 17 hitters over 5.0 innings of work, nearly recording a shutout before UT Dallas plated a run in the fifth.
 
The Greyhounds set the tone immediately in the first inning. Parisi led off with a single up the middle and promptly stole second base. After a ground ball from Rodarte moved Parisi to third, Meneses brought home the game's first run with a ground ball to second base.
 
ENMU's defense forced four consecutive three-up, three-down innings to start the game, keeping the Comets off balance.
 
The floodgates opened in the bottom of the second inning as the Greyhounds sent 13 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on five hits. Lopez provided the knockout blow with her grand slam, giving ENMU a commanding 9-0 advantage.
 
For the third consecutive inning, UT Dallas went down in order in the top of the third. The Greyhounds added an insurance run in the bottom half when Lopez singled through the right side to score Rodarte, giving Lopez her fifth RBI of the contest.
 
The Comets recorded their fourth straight three-and-out in the top of the fourth before ENMU tacked on three more runs. Campbell opened the scoring with a solo shot, and Meneses and Rodarte each drove in runs to push the lead to 13-0.
 
UT Dallas finally broke through with a run in the fifth inning, but it was too little, too late as the Greyhounds secured the run-rule victory.

GAME 2: UT Dallas 6, ENMU 4

The nightcap proved to be a much different affair as the Comets rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to erase a 3-1 deficit and claim the victory.
 
Meneses led the Greyhounds offensively, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, a triple and a home run. Parisi also recorded two hits in the loss, while Rodarte added one hit.
 
Angelina Rubalcava started in the circle for ENMU and pitched 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out six batters. Miranda Guillen, Lopez (0-4) and Rodriguez each pitched in relief for the Greyhounds.
 
Both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings before ENMU broke through in the bottom of the third. Meneses knocked a triple to right field, scoring both Parisi and Rodarte to give the Greyhounds a 2-0 lead.
 
The Comets answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.
 
ENMU loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth after UT Dallas committed three fielding errors. However, the Greyhounds were only able to manufacture one run in the frame, extending their lead to 3-1.
 
UT Dallas seized momentum in the top of the sixth inning, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs on three hits to take a 5-3 lead. The rally proved to be the difference in the contest.
 
The Greyhounds responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 5-4, but the Comets added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. ENMU was unable to mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh as UT Dallas held on for the 6-4 victory.

UP NEXT

Eastern New Mexico will embark on its longest road trip of the season, traveling to Laredo, Texas, for a doubleheader with Texas A&M International on Friday, April 24, at 12:15 p.m. CT. The Greyhounds will then face Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m. CT.