Aggies top ENMU in routs

PORTALES — Cameron started a bit slow on Friday, then the Aggies erupted.

Scoreless in the first inning of both games on a Lone Star Conference softball doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico University at Greyhound Softball Field, the Aggies scored in every other inning en route to a 12-3, 11-3 sweep of the Greyhounds.

Both games ended early on the eight-run rule. The teams finish their series with a noon single game today.

Audrey Velasquez, Susannah Chandler, and Kamalani Peneku each had three hits in the twin bill for the Greyhounds (18-29, 10-13 LSC). But for the day, the Aggies (27-13,15-4) outhit ENMU 29-16.

"I expected us to hit a more," Eastern coach Katie Welborn said. "We know that against a prolific hitting team that we need to put up more numbers that we did today."

Cameron had 12 extra base hits, including five home runs. Four of the long balls came in the second game.

Velasquez continued her hitting streak for ENMU and has batted .409 over the last seven games since belting a walk-off grand slam against Texas-Permian Basin.

"I feel a lot better since I'm contributing more," she said. "I just go up there and it's see ball, hit ball. I do what I can for the team."

Welborn is pleased to see Velasquez, who was hitting under .200 not that long ago, coming around.

"Audrey has turned it on at the right time and Suzy (Chandler) hit that big home run for us," she said, referring to the shortstop's two-run shot in the nightcap. "I wish we could have capitalized a bit more."

After a scoreless first inning in the opener, both teams scored twice in the second. Cameron then added three runs each in the third and fourth to seize an 8-2 advantage and take firm control.

The Aggies ended it in five inning, scoring four times in the top of the fifth. Brenna Busby drove in four runs for Cameron.

Velasquez drew a leadoff walk to start Game 2, and Erikka Burke followed with a RBI double to left field to give ENMU a 1-0 lead. Cameron countered with a one-out, two-run triple in the second from Bethany Hines, who then scored on a single by pitcher Alyssa Osterdock.

Things got worse for the Hounds in a hurry, with the Aggies taking a 10-1 lead on back-to-back home runs, before Chandler belted her eighth of the season with Velasquez on to cut the deficit to 10-3 in the fifth inning and keep the game alive for a while.

The Aggies plated an 11th run in the sixth and held on in the bottom half to end it on the eight-run rule.

"We're looking for a win," Velasquez said of today's finale. "We can't take Cameron lightly, but we definitely can (win) if we show well tomorrow."