Friday, March 02, 2018

PORTALES, NM — Facing a full count in the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman third baseman Elena Garcia delivered a walk-off RBI single, as the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (12-8; LSC 5-3) swept a Lone Star Conference doubleheader. Garcia batted .667 over the two games against Midwestern State (8-7; LSC 3-5) with a double, homer and four runs batted in. Eastern held on for a 7-6 win in the opener and rallied for a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.

“To say I am proud of my girls is an understatement,” said Head Coach Katiee Welborn. “We were all hungry after last weekend, and the girls really showed up and proved what we are capable of. Big hits always help. Two freshman came in the clutch. Jenny McElroy with the second game double, and Elena Garcia with a three run bomb the first game and another RBI in the second. When underclassman can show up that big, you know it is going to be a game. Hanna Gary threw lights out this evening- one earned run over 6.1 innings. So proud of how she continues to step up. We are ready for game three tomorrow, and know we need to show up all cylinders firing. We are ready.”

In the Series
The Hounds have clinched their second straight series win over the Mustangs
Eastern has won four of the last five meetings against MSU
ENMU has won three of the last four at home in the series, which are the first three home wins in the series

The Long Ball
Garcia’s three-run blast in the opener was ENMU’s only homer of the day
The Hounds have 21 homers in 20 games

Game 1
Karina Moreno was stuck by a pitch to lead off the Greyhound first inning
Erikka Burke followed with a RBI triple to right center and scored on Ashley Lopez’s sacrifice fly
The Mustangs capitalized on a third-inning error to tie the game at 2-all
Eastern also capitalized on a pair of MSU errors in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead
After the Mustangs scored on a Kelcee Thompson single, the Hounds went back to work offensively in the fifth
Eastern received base hits from Erikka Burke and Lopez, before Garcia smashed her third homer of the season to give Eastern a 7-3 lead
Amanda Thomas delivered a three-run homer to pull MSU within 7-6 in the sixth inning
Hanna Gary retired the final six batters to earn the save for the Hounds
Leslie Reyes went five innings and fanned three to pick up her fifth win of the season

Game 2
Parker Smith drew a first-inning leadoff walk and Erikka Burke was struck by a pitch to start a Greyhound rally
Eastern took advantage of a wild pitch and a RBI ground out from Lopez to take the lead
Right fielder Jennifer McElroy came through with a two-out double to give Eastern a 2-0, first inning lead
Carli Woosley homered in the third and MSU took advantage of a throwing error to seize a 3-2 lead
ENMU also capitalized on errors to plate runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 4-3 lead
Kelsey Eropkin’s two-out homer in the top of the seventh pulled MSU even at 4-all
In the bottom of the seventh, Lopez drew a leadoff walk and took second on a passed ball, before Garcia’s walk-off single
Gary allowed one run on three hits over 3.1 innings of relief to pick up the win

Continuing the Series
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will conclude its series against Midwestern State on Saturday
The game will start at 12 p.m. MT