PORTALES, NM — Facing a 2-2 count, freshman Elena Garcia delivered a walk-off single to lift the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (18-27; LSC 9-16) to a 12-11 win in an 11-inning Lone Star Conference game at Greyhound Softball Field. Garcia hit 4-for-6 with two homers and drove in five runs to lift the Hounds to victory in their series opener against Texas A&M-Kingsville (22-21; LSC 9-13).
The win was ENMU’s ninth at home, the most home victories since the 2013 season.
In the Series
The win snapped a 12-game skid in the series for the Hounds
ENMU’s last win over the Javelinas was a 9-8 decision on April 26, 2014, which came on a walk-off from Shelby Ripple
The Long Ball
ENMU has 46 homeruns for the season, just 11 shy of the team record set in 2006
With two homers, Garcia joins fellow freshman Jennifer McElroy as the only other player to have a multi-homer game this season
McElroy’s second-inning grand slam was Eastern’s second of the season, with the other by Samantha Brockman against Texas Woman’s
About the Game
After a one-hour weather delay, the Hounds had their first extra-inning game of the season
Texas A&M-Kingsville got off to a quick start and sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning to score two runs
Starting pitcher Leslie Reyes fanned two batters around a walk to Hayley Boyett to escape a bases-loaded jam
ENMU also got off to a quick start with Garcia driving in two runs on a single through the right side, before McElroy scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch
Eastern batted around in the second and seized a 7-2 lead on McElroy’s grand slam, which was followed by a two-out, solo blast from Garcia
The Javelinas closed within 8-6, before Garcia had her second two-out homer, in the fourth inning to give the Hounds a three-run lead
Texas A&M-Kingsville plated three runs in the sixth and staged a two-out rally in the seventh to seize a 10-9 lead when Rachel Longoria stole home after a bunt from Boyett
ENMU capitalized on two errors in the bottom of the inning to pull even
Kiana Zerr came on for the Hounds in the bottom of the sixth inning and allowed just two runs on six hits over six innings with five strikeouts and no walks
The Javelinas had second a third with no outs in the top of the 11th inning, but a diving stop from second baseman Karina Moreno held the runners
Texas A&M-Kingsville took an 11-10 lead on Lauren Oatman’s sacrifice fly
After a walk and hit batsmen, McElroy singled to tie the game with her fifth RBI of the game
Ashley Lopez followed with a single to load the bases and Garcia came up with her clutch wal-off hit
Eastern matched a season-high with 16 hits, for the same total as the Javelinas
Brockman batted 5-for-6 with a double and tossed out a potential base stealer in the eighth inning
Precious Aguirre hit 2-for-3, scored four runs and walked three times
Breanna Smith tossed 5.1 innings for the Javelinas
Up Next
The teams will conclude the series with a Saturday doubleheader at 12 p.m.
ENMU Fans should “Pack the Fence” and enjoy the game and tailgating for the outfield fence area
The Hounds will honor their six seniors following the second game
