ENMU softball, baseball teams finish opening weekend

DURANT, Okla. — It was a rough opening weekend for the Eastern New Mexico University softball team, although the Greyhounds had to be encouraged by some pretty good pitching and better defense on Sunday.

ENMU fell to 0-5 for the tournament and the season, losing its Sunday outings to St. Mary’s 3-1 and St. Edward’s 5-2 in a tournament hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma. The Hounds dropped their first three games in the event by a combined score of 24-9 and committed 12 errors, compared with just two on Sunday.

Against the Rattlers, ENMU scored on a passed ball in the top of the first. St. Mary’s countered with run-scoring singles from pitcher Jordan Russell and second baseman Alessandra Ortiz in the second, then tacked on an insurance run in the fifth on an RBI double by catcher Marcela Vasquez.

Freshman Kalee Rogers (0-2) was solid in the circle throughout for ENMU, allowing seven hits and two earned runs with one walk and four strikeouts. Russell, though, gave up just four hits and struck out eight in going the distance for the Rattlers.

ENMU carried a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth against St. Ed’s, but the Hilltoppers (3-3) strung together six hits for four runs against another freshman, Alyssa Lovato (0-2). The big blow was a two-run double to right-center by right fielder Kayla Appleby.

ENMU scored in the first on a bases-loaded walk to junior third baseman Tiana Faagalulu and a fifth-inning double by freshman catcher Samantha Brockman.

Both teams had plenty of baserunners, stranding a combined 23 — 14 by the Hounds. ENMU left at least two runners on in five innings, including the bases loaded in the first and second.

Olivia Burdick (1-0) managed to get the win for the Hilltoppers, throwing six innings and allowing two runs (one earned) despite walking seven and striking out just one.

The Hounds return to action today with an 11 a.m. (MST) doubleheader against Colorado Christian in Lubbock.

Baseball — ENMU completed an easy season-opening, four-game series sweep over overmatched Lane College on Saturday, winning 14-4 and 7-0. For the series, the Hounds outscored the Dragons 65-8.

Junior second baseman Alex DeLaCruz continued to pound the ball, getting five hits on Saturday and finishing the weekend 13-for-21 with three home runs.

The Dragons took a 2-1 lead in the second inning of the opener, scoring twice on no hits as junior left-hander Victor Persaid issued five walks. But it was short-lived.

ENMU took advantage of three of Lane College’s nine errors to score four times in the top of the third, then erupted for eight runs on only two hits and three more errors in the fourth, capped by a grand slam from junior catcher Gabriel Vargas.

DeLaCruz and junior shortstop Endy Villalona each had three hits and combined to score five runs and drive in five more. Junior right-hander Nick DeArmond (1-0) relieved Persad and retired seven of eight hitters he faced, five on strikes, including the Dragons’ Tavariz Brown to leave the bases loaded in the second.

In the series finale, junior right-hander Keenan Dodd (1-0) worked four perfect innings, striking out 10 of the 12 hitters he faced, in relief of starter Austin Paisar and got the win on a combined two-hitter. Paisar, a junior righty, struck out six in his own right.

Junior third baseman Garlind Webster’s two-run double broke a scoreless tie in a three-run second, and the Hounds added single runs in four of the final five innings.

Sophomore first baseman Andrew Stubbs went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs scored.

ENMU will be in Atlanta for six games in four days, beginning with a 3 p.m. (MST) clash on Friday against Virginia State.