Game Recap: Softball | 3/6/2022 6:15:00 PM | Cameron Brennan

Eastern New Mexico softball tangled with #1 UT Tyler on Sunday afternoon at Greyhound Softball Field for a doubleheader. The Hounds fell just short in game one, 6-3, against the Patriots. While UT Tyler pulled away with an 11-0 win (5 Inn.) over Eastern in game two. ENMU fall to 8-12 overall, with a 1-3 conference record, while #1 UT Tyler move to 17-1 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.

GAME ONE: UTT 6, ENMU 3

After a quiet first two innings from both teams, UT Tyler scored the game’s first run in the third. With runners on second and third after an error and a double, a two out single brought home one run to take a 1-0 lead. The next batter also singled, this time down the left field line to bring two more runs. The Patriots held a 3-0 advantage after three innings. UT Tyler pushed the score to 4-0 after one run in the fourth inning.

The Greyhounds bats connected in the fifth inning to bring life into the game. After Jokaira Paredes reached on a hit by pitch, Ashlee Lucero poked a single into right field and to put runners on the corner. After Mikenzey Patterson pinch run for Lucero and stole second base, Maite Bustillos took a ball back up the middle to score two runs for Eastern, 4-2 UTT. Later in the inning, the Hounds loaded the bases but couldn’t push another run home as the inning ended 4-2 UT Tyler.

After a clean sixth inning from both teams, UT Tyler picked up two runs in the top of the frame pinning the score to 6-2 as the Hounds were down to their final three outs. Sierra Wooley, Lisette Urquidez, and Azalea Martinez all singled with one out to load the bases for Brook Leger. Leger brought a run home via a groundout, 6-3 UTT. However, that was the only run for the Hounds in the seventh as the game finished 6-3 UTT.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Hounds finished with eight hits overall, along with three RBI’s.
• Martinez finished the game 3-4 at the plate, with Bustillos posting a game high two RBI’s.
• Leger is handed the loss, allowing three runs (all unearned) from four hits in three innings. Harrison threw 3.1 innings conceding three runs from six hits, Jordan Bowman tossed 0.2 innings with one hit and one walk.
• Payton Foster was awarded the win throwing 4.2 innings with two runs from four hits and three strikeouts. Sarah Gartman picked up the save with 2.1 innings pitched with one run allowed with four hits.

FROM THE SOURCE

“The first game against UTT was a chess match the entire time. We made all of the right moves and had an opportunity to bust things open several times with runners in scoring position,” said Head Softball Coach Amanda Fefel. “The team never quit, and I love it. Azalea had a great day at the plate going 3-4, and all of our pitchers in the rotation did their job, coming in and getting out of big situations,” said Fefel.

GAME TWO: UTT 11, ENMU 0 (5 INN.)

The Hounds defense held the Patriots for the first two innings with great defensive play, including a double play from Eden Lopez. With runners on the corners and one out, Lopez fielded a ground ball tagging the runner advancing to second and recorded the putout at first for a 4-3 double play.

However, UT Tyler picked up its first runs of game in the third inning after two bunt singles led to a three-run homerun to put the Patriots ahead 3-0. The Patriots added two more runs in the inning, holding a 5-0 lead after the third. Eastern tired to get the bats going in the next inning with a Bustillos double, but nothing would come from it.

The visiting team added to their lead in the fifth inning, starting off with a solo home run to start the frame. UTT scored a handful of runs with two outs in the inning; one scoring a wild pitch, two on a single, and two more on a homerun. UT Tyler plated a total of six runs in the fifth inning from four hits. Eastern couldn’t muster runs in the bottom of the fifth as the game ended 11-0 UTT.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Greyhounds picked up four hits total, with Bustillos collecting two hits.
• Martinez and Paredes picked up the other hits during the game for ENMU.
• Five pitchers appeared in the game for ENMU, with Leger taking the defeat with four runs allowed in 0.1 innings.
• Tatum Goff earned the win in a complete game, allowing four hits with six strikeouts.

FROM THE SOURCE

“This was a tough game for our squad all around. We had a lot of momentum at the end of the first game, but couldn’t carry it into game two,” said Fefel. “We struggled to regroup all around but we learned a lot in this series and look to work hard this week in preparation for ASU and LCU”.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The is the first time the two teams met in Portales, N.M. with the only other meeting coming in Tyler, Texas.
• UTT holds a 4-0 record against the Hounds, with the 6-3 game being the closest between the two teams.
• Three runs in game one was the first runs ENMU had ever scored against the Patriots in program history.
• Eastern hit the road next, traveling to national ranked Angelo State and visiting Lubbock Christian, who received votes in the most recent national poll. The Hounds will play Angelo State on Friday, Mar. 11, and LCU on Sunday, Mar. 13.