Hounds finish series sweep of UTPB

PORTALES — Struggling senior Audrey Velasquez hit Eastern New Mexico University’s fourth home run of the game, a two-out, pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to give the Greyhounds a 13-4 run-rule victory over Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday and a sweep of their three-game Lone Star Conference series at Greyhound Softball Field.

Velasquez, batting under .200 for the year, stepped to the plate for catcher Courtney Vigil and rocketed a 1-1 pitch out to left for her first home run of the campaign.

Freshman Kaylee Rogers (12-12) picked up her third victory of the weekend. She pitched all but one-third of an inning for the Hounds (16-24, 9-9 LSC), who came into the weekend on a 10-game losing streak.

Designated player Cindy Juarez put the Lady Falcons (5-28, 2-13) in front 3-0 with a three-run homer to left-center in the top of the first, her fifth of the season and second in the series. Juarez drove in seven of UTPB’s nine runs in the three games.

But the Lady Falcons were quiet the rest of the day, scoring again only in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI single by second baseman Adrianna Berzoza.

Junior first baseman Erikka Burke homered twice for the Hounds, giving her an LSC-leading 12 for the season.

Senior shortstop Susannah Chandler belted her sixth home run, a two-run shot off Sloan Springfield (0-5) in the third inning to make it 3-2.

The Hounds then chased Springfield, scoring six runs on six hits — five for extra bases — in the bottom of the fourth.

Vigil, Samantha Glover and pinch-hitter Katie Ripple pounded consecutive doubles to start the inning, giving the Hounds a 4-3 lead, before Burke launched an 0-2 pitch over the right-center field barrier.

One out later, left fielder Cameron Conrad singled and rode home on an opposite-field triple down the left field line by center fielder Ashley Lopez. Lopez then scored on a wild pitch by UTPB reliever Randi May.

Burke led off the ENMU sixth with an opposite-field homer to left, again on an 0-2 pitch. A single, a double and a walk loaded the bases with two outs before Velasquez left the building to end the contest.

ENMU collected 16 hits in the game, 10 of them for extra bases. Burke and Keller led the way, each going 3-for-4, while 10 Hounds hit safely in the contest.

The Hounds return to action with a three-game LSC set at Texas A&M-Commerce, beginning with a 3 p.m. (MDT) twin bill on Friday.