With first pitch of Eastern New Mexico softball just over a month away, head softball coach Amanda Fefel has announced the Hounds schedule for 2022.

Eastern will take part in three tournaments in February before tackling its Lone Star Conference schedule. The Hounds will compete in 14 single-game contests across three tournaments and 18 doubleheaders during the season, with 15 of those contests being LSC games, for a total of 50 games.

“We are very excited about our upcoming schedule for the 2022 spring season” said head coach Amanda Fefel. “With such a young roster, I want our team to be battled tested early, and to steer our program in the right direction in building a successful spring season. Our program has made great strides this fall and we look forward to getting back on the field this spring in front of all of our Greyhound fans and families”.

Last time out, ENMU completed its 2021 season with a 4-27 overall record, and a 4-26 standing in conference play. The Hounds will be bringing back 15 student-athletes from the previous season, along with 10 new members to the Greyhounds program. Azalea Martinez returns after leading the Hounds in batting average (.293) and hits (22), along with leaders in innings pitched Brook Leger, Maite Bustillos, and Jordan Bowman all returning.

Eastern start its 2022 campaign in Albuquerque, N.M. at the RMAC/LSC Crossover Tournament with opening day on Feb. 4 against New Mexico Highlands University. The Hounds will have two more tournaments over the following weekends. First heading to Lubbock, Texas for the Lubbock College Softball Classic, then traveling to Tucson, Ariz. the next weekend for the Cactus Classic.

“We will see several regional opponents the first three weekends out in Albuquerque at the RMAC/LSC Softball Crossover Tournament, then in Lubbock at the Lubbock Sports College Softball Classic, and finally in Arizona at the Cactus Classic” said Fefel. “With 14 games scheduled in the first three weekends, we look forward to competing against some of the best programs in our region”.

The Hounds will break ground on home turf on Feb. 25 during a home-and home doubleheader series with Lubbock Christian University, with Eastern traveling to take on the Chaparrals on Feb. 26. ENMU will jump right into LSC conference play right after, hosting Texas A&M University-Commerce on Mar. 4 for a doubleheader (DH), then facing University of Texas at Tyler for a doubleheader on Mar. 6.

From then, the Hounds hit the road for doubleheaders against Angelo State University (3/11) and Lubbock Christian (3/13). The month of March concludes with home contests against Texas A&M University-Kingsville (3/18, DH) and Texas A&M International University (3/20, DH), then traveling to St. Mary’s University (3/25, DH) and St. Edward’s University (3/27, DH).

April begins with the Hounds hosting five straight home doubleheaders in two weeks. First, Oklahoma Christian University will travel to Portales for a pair of games on April 1, Cameron University will battle Eastern on April 3 in a pair of contests. Next, Texas Women’s University contend with ENMU, April 8 (DH), and Midwestern State University tangle with the Greyhounds on April 10 (DH). The home stand ends with New Mexico Highlands playing a pair of non-conference games against Eastern on April 13.

The regular season road trips wrap up with the Hounds traveling to Western New Mexico University (April 22, DH) and University of Texas Permian Basin (April 24, DH). Eastern will end the regular season by welcoming regaining national champions West Texas A&M University on April 30 for a doubleheader.

The Greyhound will be working towards participation in the 2022 Lone Star Conference Tournament, which is scheduled to take place on May 5-7. The Hounds kick off its season at the RMAC/LSC Crossover Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M. against New Mexico Highlands at the Albuquerque Regional Sport Complex. ENMU have its first home doubleheader on Feb. 25 against Lubbock Christian.