Portales wins pair on Friday

Kiersten Ramirez pitched two complete games, allowing six hits and one run, and got plenty of support from sister Kailee Ramirez at the plate as Portales swept a pair of games Friday in the first day of the Ram Softball Tournament.

Kiersten Ramirez tossed a two-hitter in a 7-1 win over Cobre, with Kailee Ramirez going 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Kailee Ramirez, a sophomore third baseman, hit a grand slam in the Lady Rams' second outing as Portales topped Hope Christian 8-0 in the six-team tournament.

Portales (6-3) will round out play in the event at 11 a.m. today against Las Vegas Robertson.

"After the first game when we left so many runners on base, I talked to the girls about needing to get hits with runners on base," Portales coach Robbie Crowley said. "I guess we responded."

Ramirez' grand slam, her fourth home run of the season, came with two outs in the seventh. Junior catcher Simone Laurenz had her own clutch hit with a two-run triple in the fourth that made it 4-0, and Summer Martinez had a two-run single in the second.

Portales committed one error in the two games.

"I was really pleased with the defense," Crowley said. "It's taking us a little while to learn to play together."

Laurenz added three hits against Cobre, including an RBI double in the fourth inning that made it 4-0.

Kiersten Martinez, who held Cobre (7-3) scoreless until the seventh inning, struck out 11 and walked six in her 14 innings of work.