Game Recap: Softball | 4/19/2022 7:00:00 PM | Cameron Brennan

Eastern New Mexico softball took a pair of wins over New Mexico Highlands, 4-1 and 10-6, on Tuesday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field. The Hounds improve to 15-27 on the season, while the Cowgirls fall to 7-37 on the campaign.

GAME ONE: ENMU 4, NMHU 1

The visiting team jumped on the board in the first inning after a pair of hits. A single and stolen base put a runner in scoring position, then a single through the left side sent the runner home for a 1-0 lead. The Eastern offense were held in the first three innings at the plate, picking up just one hit.

ENMU tied the game in the fourth inning on a pass ball at the plate. With two outs, Brook Leger lined a double into center field to put a runner in scoring position. Jokaira Paredes was next and belted a single up the middle and set runners on the corners. With Kianna Galindo at the plate, Leger took off for home after a pitch got past the catcher for NMHU, tying the score at 1-1.

The Greyhounds broke open the game in the fifth frame to take a lead over NMHU. Maite Bustillos got things started with a single, and Mackenzie Shaw found a base hit into center field to put runners on the corners. Sierra Wooley put a ball in play, allowing Bustillos to cross home as the Hounds took a 2-1 lead.

The inning continued with Azalea Martinez singling a run home through the right side. With Martinez on third and two outs, Lisette Urquidez doubled to deep center field to score the Hounds third run of the inning, 4-1 ENMU. Overall, the Hounds picked up three runs on four hits in the inning.

Eastern’s defense took care of the rest with a 1-2-3 inning for the final two frames. The Hounds took game one by a final score of 4-1 over the Cowgirls.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Hounds outhit the Cowgirls 8-5, scoring four runs with three RBIs. Seven different batters registered a hit in the game.
• Paredes finished the game 2-3 at the plate, while Wooley, Martinez, and Urquidez picked up RBIs.
• In the circle, Urquidez delivered 3.0 innings in relief to earn the win. Urquidez allowed just one hit, one walk, with two K’s. Leger started the game on the hill, and allowed just one run from four hits.
• Demi Uffelman tossed five innings in the loss, surrendering four runs on eight hits.

GAME TWO: ENMU 10, NMHU 6

The Greyhounds offense got things started quickly with a pair of walks. Paredes singled to score the games first run, and Wooley followed with an infield single to put another run to the plate, 2-0. New Mexico Highlands with a pair of homeruns to start the third inning, 2-2. NMHU jumped in-front in the third inning after a two out double.

Trailing 3-2 in the third inning, Eastern put up three runs to leap back ahead. Wooley and Galindo worked back to back hits to put runners on the corners with one out. Ashlee Lucero dropped a bunt to tie the game, as Wooley raced home. Edyn Lopez stepped into the box and delivered RBI single to center field, taking a 4-3 lead. Leger stepped into the lineup as a pinch hitter and cleared the bases for a 2-RBI double. Eastern grabbed five hits in the inning, scoring four runs to take a 6-3 lead.

NMHU brought a run back in the fourth inning, to make the game 6-4 ENMU. However, Eastern put up insurance runs in the sixith frame. After three walks in the inning and two outs, Wooley took the first pitch they saw and drilled it over the center field fence for a grand slam, 10-4 ENMU. The Cowgirls registered two insurance runs in the final inning, but the Hounds finished on top 10-6 over NMHU.

NOTABLE STATS

• Both teams finished with nine hits in the game, as the Greyhounds scored 10 runs with 10 RBIs.
• Wooley finished a triple short of the cycle, going 3-4 at the plate with five RBIs. As. Lucero finished with two hits in the game and Leger accounted for two RBIs.
• Jennifer Gress collected the win in relief, throwing 3.0 innings and giving up one two runs (one earned run). Jordan Bowman started the game and went one inning, giving up two hits and two runs. Taylor Harrison picked up the save, with four strikeouts and two runs allowed (both unearned).
• Arianna Ramirez tossed a complete game, giving up 10 runs on nine hits.

FROM THE SOURCE

“It’s always a good day when you can take two games from an in-state and RMAC rival,” said Head Softball Coach Amanda Fefel. “They put a lot of pressure on our defense in both games, but the team made solid defensive plays to get out of certain innings. Our middles, Jokaira (Paredes) and Edyn (Lopez), turned a great double play that took some momentum away from NMHU as well,” said Fefel. “Our pitching staff did a good job coming into the game and commanding zone. I would have liked to see more timely hitting from our offense moving into this weekend, but overall the team fought hard in two great games,”.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• In the circle, Urquidez picked up their first win this season and Harrison registered their first save of the season. Harrison tied a career high for strikeouts with four.
• Wooley launched their first homerun of their Greyhound career and set a season five RBIs and three hits in a game.
• Lopez collected their first career RBI with the Greyhounds.
• Mikenzey Patterson swiped their 19th career stolen base, taking control of ninth place in program history for stolen bases.
• The Hounds have now won seven straight games against the Cowgirls, tying the longest win streak in series history.
• ENMU have won five of their last six home games, with sweeps over Texas Woman’s, and New Mexico Highlands, along with a win over Midwestern State.
• The Greyhounds return to conference play on Friday, Apr. 22, against Western New Mexico University. ENMU is scheduled to play a pair of games starting at 12 p.m.