Walks hurt Zias in routs at West Texas

CANYON, Texas — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team set a new record for walks issued Wednesday night, and took all of one game to match it.

Host West Texas A&M, ranked fifth in NCAA Division II, took complete advantage of 26 total walks in the Lone Star Conference doubleheader, with 15 of those baserunners scoring in 14-0 and 19-3 wins.

The Lady Buffs (36-7, 15-5 LSC) did all of their opening-game damage in the first inning, sending 20 batters to the plate. They chased both starter Alberta Medina and reliever Katie Ramsay (3-19) in the first inning, before reliever Vanessa Ramirez allowed just three hits in 3 1/3 innings of shutout ball.

The Zias (14-35, 6-14) managed five hits, just one for extra bases, off Lady Buff starter Hannah Newcomb (13-4). Newcomb faced 21 batters, with only three runners advancing past first base.

In the nightcap, WT jumped out to a 9-0 lead after two innings, largely due to grand slams in each inning by Allie Cranfill, and scored seven in the third to put the game on ice.

Zia starter Mary Jo Granger (6-5) allowed 12 runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings of work, while Adriana Garcia (6-0) gave up three runs on six hits in five innings of work before the game was called via the mercy rule.

Third baseman Erica Armendarez went 2-for-5 in the doubleheader, including an RBI single in the third inning of the nightcap.

The Zias host Abilene Christian 2 p.m. Friday to open their final home conference series.