4/8/2022 | Softball | Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico softball picked up a pair of wins in a sweep of Texas Woman’s University, 4-3 and 4-2, on Friday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. The Greyhounds improve to 12-26 on the season with a 5-17 standing in conference play. The Pioneers slip to 9-24, and 4-18 in LSC action.

GAME ONE: ENMU 4, TWU 3

After a scoreless first inning, the visiting Pioneers started the scoring in the second frame. A walk with two outs put a runner on first base, and an ENMU error on the following batter allowed the runner on first to score the games first run, 1-0. Eastern replied in the bottom of the inning, with three straight singles from the heart of the order. Sierra Wooley started with an infield single to the shortstop, followed by Kianna Galindo poking a ball through the left side. With Wooley on second, Alanna Larkins delivered a base hit down the left field line to tie the score at 1-1.

From then the runs stopped until the fifth inning. Texas Woman’s put a runner on second with two outs after a single and a stolen base. Two walks loaded the bases and single up the middle brought two runs around to score as TWU regained the lead, 3-1. Eastern escaped the rest of the inning unmarked as a fielder’s choice ended the inning. The Hounds responded in the next half inning, as Jennifer Gress launched a home run over the left field fence to make the score 3-2. Gress jumped on the first pitch she saw in the at bat with two outs in the inning.

After a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, Eastern went back to work at the plate with Jokaira Paredes drawing a lead-off walk. After moving over to second on a sacrifice bunt, Mikenzey Patterson entered the game to pinch run with Galindo at the plate. Galindo lined a hard shot at the first baseman which trickled into right field, and Patterson beat the throw at home to tie the game 3-3. A single from Larkins moved the winning run to second, but a foul out and groundout ended the inning tied at 3-3.

After Eastern produced a scoreless seventh inning on defense, ENMU quickly put two base runners on in the first two batters. Singles from Gress and Azalea Martinez put the winning run in scoring position. Lisette Urquidez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over, but an aired throw brought Gress around third to end the game in walkoff fashion, 4-3.

NOTABLE STATS

  • Eastern out-hit the Pioneers 12-5 in the contest, scoring four runs with three RBIs. Five Eastern hitters registered hits, all of them posting multi-hit games.
  • Martinez finished the game 4-4 at the plate with two doubles. Gress, Wooley, Galindo, and Larkins each supplied two hits, with Gress, Galindo, and Larkins accounting for an RBI.
  • Gress scored twice, including the game winning run, while Wooley and Patterson both scored.
  • Gress picks up the win in relief with 2.0 innings pitched giving up no hits and one walk. Urquidez threw the first five innings of the game, allowing five hits and three runs.
  • Jalee McDonald gets the no decision throwing 1.1 innings, giving up four hits and one run. Jules Males finished the game with 4.1 innings thrown, giving up three runs on eight hits in the defeat.

GAME TWO: ENMU 4, TWU 2

The Hounds got on the board early in the first two frames, picking up a run in each inning. Martinez tripled with one out, setting up Urquidez to send the runner home after a double into the gap in right field, 1-0 ENMU. Eastern came back for another run in the second inning, after Clarissa Marrujo lead off the inning with a double. After moving to third on a sacrifice, Mackenzie Shaw brought the runner home on an infield single to the pitcher, 2-0 ENMU.

TWU returned a run in the next half inning, after a pair of singles broke the scoreless mark for the Pioneers, 2-1 ENMU. However, the Greyhounds picked up two more runs in the fourth inning. With runners on second and third with one out, Gress split the gap in right center and scored both runs on a double to put the Greyhounds ahead 4-1.

The Hounds defense kept the base runners to a minimum, entering the final inning with a 4-1 advantage. The Pioneers put some pressure on the Hounds, putting runners on first and third with two outs in the inning and the tying run at the plate. A double deep center scored a run to make the game 4-2 but put the tying run in scoring position at second base with a runner on third. The next batter bounced a high ball in front of the plate, which Shaw fielded cleanly and tossed to first to end the game 4-2 over Texas Woman’s.

NOTABLE STATS

  • The Hounds edged TWU in hits, 8-7, scoring four runs and posting four RBI’s.
  • Six different Greyhounds registered hits, with Martinez and Marrujo picking up two base knocks. Gress provided two RBIs, while Urquidez and Shaw posted an RBI.
  • Jordan Bowman gets the win after a complete game performance, allowing two runs (one earned run) on seven hits and one walk.
  • Kelsie Briggs takes the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits in five innings, McDonald threw one scoreless inning.

FROM THE SOURCE

“Today was a great day,” said Head Softball Coach Amanda Fefel. “You could feel the energy throughout the dugout in both games. Lisette (Urquidez), Jennifer (Gress), and Jordan (Bowman) did an excellent job on the mound producing quality outs,” said Fefel. “Azalea (Martinez) was seeing the ball well today going 6-8, but throughout the lineup there were clutch hits, walks, and small ball execution, and even our outs were hard hits. Having a sweep at home is a great way to prepare tomorrow for Midwestern State on Sunday,” said Fefel.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • Eastern recorded its first ever home sweep against the Pioneers in program history and picked up its first home win against TWU since 2016.
  • In game one, Eastern set a season best with 12 hits and tied a best mark of three doubles in a game.
  • Martinez scattered a career best four hits during the game and posted two doubles (a season best).
  • Gress marked the game with a first career homerun, win, and scored the game winning run for the Hounds, along with a career high in at bats (four), hits (two), and runs (two).
  • In game two, Bowman marked a season first win and complete game, while Marrujo totaled a season high two hits in a game.
  • ENMU return to the field on Sunday afternoon against Midwestern State University. The doubleheader is set to begin at 12 p.m. for first pitch.