Game Recap: Softball | 3/4/2022 10:30:00 PM | Cameron Brennan

Eastern New Mexico knocked off #23 Texas A&M-Commerce, 8-5 in its home opener on Friday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. The Lions took back game two of the day, 9-1, to earn a series split. The Hounds move to 8-10 on the season and hold a 1-1 LSC standing. TAMUC now post a 15-3 overall record and are also 1-1 in LSC action.

GAME ONE: ENMU 8, TAMUC 5

The Lions jumped on the board first in the first inning following an error by the Greyhounds, but immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, Lisette Urquidez worked a walk to bring Azalea Martinez to the plate. Martinez turned on a ball sending it over the left field fence to put the Hounds up 2-1 after the first frame.

Texas A&M-Commerce responded with two runs in the second, but the Hounds bats were ready to reply.  Brook Leger led off the inning with a double and was brought home on a bunt single by Mackenzie Shaw, tying the game at 3-3. With two runners on and two outs, Sierra Wooley poked a single into the outfield plating Shaw, and putting a runner on third and second, 4-3 ENMU. The next batter, Urquidez took a ball over the plate past the centerfield fence giving the Greyhounds a 7-3 advantage after two innings.

From then, Leger entered the game as a relief pitcher to calm the Lions bats down in the top of the third inning. Leger started their outing with two scoreless innings and got support from the Hounds offense. Maite Bustillos singled to left center to score the Hounds eighth run of the game, and hold an 8-3 lead after four innings.

The Lions struck back in the sixth inning with a two-run homer to make the score 8-5, but Leger retired the final five batters in a row as the Hounds beat #23 Texas A&M-Commerce 8-5.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Hounds posted eight hits on the afternoon, with a total of four extra base hits.
• Seven different Hounds recorded hits with Martinez collecting two hits with two RBI’s. Urquidez finished with a game high three RBI’s, thanks to the three-run homerun.
• Leger claimed the win in 5.0 innings pitched, allowing two runs from three hits with eight strikeouts. Urquidez earns the no decision, throwing 2.0 inning conceding three runs (all unearned) and allowing four hits.
• Emily Otto takes the defeat for the Lions, going six innings, allowing eight runs from eight hits.

FROM THE SOURCE

“From the first pitch the team had amazing energy both on the field and in the dugout” said Head Softball Coach Amanda Fefel. “We stuck to our game plan and executed on both sides of the ball well. Lisette and Brook threw a great game keeping hitters 1-9 for Commerce off balance” said Fefel. “Our hitters were seeing the ball well and jumped on Otto early in the count to get in scoring position. Azalea had a tremendous game at the plate going 2-2 with a homerun. It’s always a great feeling to open up with a conference win against a nationally ranked opponent” said Fefel.

GAME TWO: TAMUC 9, ENMU 1

The Lions got their bats started early in game two, picking up five runs in the first two innings of play benefitting from two homeruns, 5-0 TAMUC after two innings.

TAMUC tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning, but Eastern hopped on the board in the bottom of the fourth frame. With one out, Urquidez sent a ball to deep center field as it carried out of the ballpark to score the first run for ENMU. The Hounds trailed 7-1 at that point.

Texas A&M-Commerce continued to hit as the game went on and added two more runs before the game ended, while the Hounds hitting was subdued by Alyssa LeBlanc for the Lions. The final score ended 9-1 in favor of #23 Texas A&M-Commerce.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Hounds scattered five hits during the contest, coming from five different bats. Wooley, Urquidez, Martinez, Leger, and Shaw all ended up with a base knock.
• Urquidez scored the only run and had the lone RBI for ENMU.
• Taylor Harrison is dealt the loss after allowing five runs from five hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Jennifer Gress and Jordan Bowman each made an appearance in the circle during the game both allowing two runs with the former going 2.1 innings, and the latter throwing three frames.
• Alyssa LeBlanc picked up the victory for TAMUC with one run allowed in six innings on just four hits. Chanlee Oakes finished the game in one inning and giving up one hit.

FROM THE SOURCE

“Commerce came out swinging in game two, putting five runs on the board early, but our team continued to fight to stay in the game” said Fefel. “We had runners on base throughout but couldn’t string together timely hitting to get the job done. Jordan came in and kept things tight producing a lot of quality outs for us in the circle” said Fefel. “Although its not the outcome that we wanted, we learned a lot in this series and hope to carry this energy and momentum into Sunday against UTT” said Fefel.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Hounds bested TAMUC for the first time since 2017, when the Hounds beat the Lions 5-4 in Commerce, Texas. Eastern beat the Lions on home turf for the first time since 2016, in an 8-7 victory.
• Eastern have knocked off a nationally ranked team for the first time since 2020, when the Hounds swept West Texas A&M in March of 2020.
• Martinez picked up their first homer of the season, and Urquidez picked up their fifth HR of the year.
• Leger picks up their seventh win of the season, surpassing a career best in a season.
• The Greyhounds take one #1 UT Tyler on Sunday, Mar. 6, at Greyhound Softball Field. First pitch is expected for 11 am on Sunday.