Zias keep playoff hopes intact with shutout

KINGSVILLE, Texas — Walking a bit of a tightrope again, Eastern New Mexico University's softball team got its second shutout of the weekend and improved its chances of making the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament.

Carlsbad freshman Mary Jo Granger pitched into the seventh inning and sophomore Katie Ramsay belted a two-run homer on Saturday as the Zias (14-33, 6-12 LSC) beat Texas A&M-Kingsville 6-0 on Saturday, moving into a tie for the eighth and final spot in the conference meet with Cameron, which was swept by Abilene Christian (24-20, 8-10) and has a two-game lead over both teams for seventh place.

Nine league games remain, including a home series against ACU next weekend and a trip to Cameron in two weeks. In between, the Zias face WT (31-6, 13-5) in a doubleheader at Canyon on Wednesday and in a single game at Zia Softball Field on April 23.

ENMU blanked Kingsville 2-0 in Friday's series opener as the Javelinas (12-29, 2-16) left the bases loaded in the seventh and stranded 14 overall.

Granger (6-6), who leads ENMU in wins, allowed eight hits and two walks, coming out after giving up back-to-back one-out singles in the seventh. Ramsay took over and got a groundout and popup to end it.

Ramsay launched her third homer of the season with one out in the fourth to break a scoreless tie. The Zias added a run in the fifth on an RBI double by Lizzy Velasquez, then added three unearned runs in the final two innings as the Javelinas (12-29, 2-16) came unraveled a bit and committed three errors.

ENMU outhit the Javs 7-6, with catcher Kodie Garner going 3-for-3 for Kingsville.