Hounds gain first-day split in softball event

Staff report

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Senior outfielder Marleyna Pinon went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, including a go-ahead two-run double in the bottom of the fifth, and Eastern New Mexico University held on for an 8-7 win over Texas Wesleyan on Friday in the North Texas Softball Bash.

ENMU (6-5) lost its first game of the day to Lubbock Christian 6-2. The Greyhounds will play back-to-back today, taking on Oklahoma City University at 11 a.m. (MST) before facing Texas-Permian Basin, and wraps up play in the three-day event with a 9 a.m. (MST) contest on Sunday against Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Sophomore right-hander Kiana Zerr (1-1) went the distance to get the victory, allowing six hits and five earned runs. She held the Lady Rams (3-7) to one run on one hit over the final four innings, retiring the last eight batters in order.

Junior designated player Katie Ripple belted her first homer of the season, a three-run shot in the second that erased a 2-1 Wesleyan lead. The Lady Rams, though, rode a three-run homer from junior Brittany Rosenberry to a four-run third.

ENMU outhit TWU 10-8. Rosenberry (0-2) gave up the big hit to Pinon and took the loss in relief of Lady Rams starter Lauren Wernet.

Earlier, LCU (11-5) got home runs from senior second baseman Sammie Murrieta and senior third baseman Morgan Colburn to turn back the Hounds. Colburn, who put the Lady Chaps ahead with her two-run homer in the first, also drove in a run with a fifth-inning single.

Junior Katera Eltsosie (7-2) went the distance in the circle for LCU on a three-hitter, walking one and striking out five. ENMU sophomore left-hander Aja Secheslingloff (4-2) also tossed a complete game, allowing nine hits and striking out six.

Senior third baseman Morgan Green tied the game at 2-2 for ENMU with a two-out, two-run double in the top of the third after consecutive hit batsmen by Eltsosie, but Murrietta’s one-out homer in the bottom half put LCU back in front for good.