Lady Rams notch split with Loving

Portales High's softball team was only too happy to see Loving junior Haylie Tiller removed from the circle during the second game of Monday's softball doubleheader at Wheeler Park.

CMI correspondent: Joshua LuceroPortales sophomore Ashlie Villanueva scores during the Lady Rams' eight-run fourth in the second game of Monday's softball doublehader against Loving at Wheeler Park. PHS split with the Lady Falcons, losing 4-0 and winning 10-4.

Tiller threw a five-hit shutout in the opener as the defending Class 1-2A state champion Lady Falcons posted a 4-0 win, and she was working on a 2-0 shutout in the nightcap when she was relieved by eighth-grader Lelliana Rodriguez to start the fourth.

The PHS bats erupted for eight runs in that inning and the Lady Rams, two-time defending Class 3A state runnersup, went on to a 10-4 victory.

PHS coach Robbie Crowley noted the Lady Falcons (9-2) have a quality program and are usually at or near the top of their classification.

"I think they have a very good chance of winning it again this year," she said.

CMI correspondent: Joshua LuceroPortales sophomore Kailee Ramirez gets a base hit during the second game of the Lady Rams' softball doubleheader on Monday against Loving at Wheeler Park.

Francis Armijo led a 13-hit, second-game attack for the Lady Rams (8-4) by going 3-for-4, including a two-run double in the fourth inning. Summer Martinez, Ashlie Villanueva and Kailee Ramirez all finished with two hits.

The Lady Rams, who made eight errors in the opener, were errorless in the nightcap; the Lady Falcons who committed no miscues in the opener, had six in the second game.

"We got on a roll," Crowley said of the fourth-inning barrage. "The biggest problem we've had this year is we get runners on base and don't get them in, but we did that this time."

Freshman Kiersten Ramirez earned the win in the second game. She took the loss in the opener, although her defense let her down at times.

Samantha Franco and Sidney Vasquez each went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Lady Falcons in Game 1.

Portales returns to action on Thursday in a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader at West Las Vegas.