ENMU softball sweeps Panhandle

GOODWELL, Okla. — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team exploded for 27 runs to sweep Wednesday's doubleheader at Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Junior Erikka Burke homered in the opener to move into a tie for second on the school’s single-season record list, helping ENMU (20-33) to a 13-5 win. The Hounds also picked up a 14-11 win in the nightcap over the Aggies (11-34).

The wins contrasted with a 6-1 setback against the Aggies back in February, which saw the Hounds limited to only three hits. The sweep snapped a two-game skid in the series and moved ENMU to 34-14 in the overall series and 17-4 in road games.

With her 13th longball of the season, Burke moved into a tie with Tina Whitt (2006) for second on the ENMU single-season list. She also moved into sole possession of third place on the career list at 22.

Two outs into the opener, Susannah Chandler and Ashley Lopez drew walks to set up Tiana Faagalulu's RBI single to give Eastern the lead. Courtney Vigil followed with a two-run double.

The Aggies managed to score twice in the bottom of the frame, but Eastern batted around in the second inning. A leadoff walk to Precious Aguirre followed by back-to-back doubles from Audrey Velasquez and Burke pushed the lead to 5-2.

Kamalani Peneku was struck by a pitch with the bases loaded to give Eastern another run before the inning ended. Eastern added four runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth to seize a 13-2 lead.

Burke's two-run homer came with one out in the fourth inning. OPSU managed three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the game ended due to ENMU's eight-run advantage.

Kaylee Rogers scattered 10 hits and fanned seven batters to garner her 15th win of the season. Burke batted 3-for-4, scored three runs and drove in four.

Vigil batted 3-for-3. Julia Ibarra suffered the loss for the Aggies, and allowed 10 runs over three innings.

Vigil continued to wield a hot bat for the Hounds in game two and batted three-for-five in the nightcap. She got the offensive fireworks started with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the first to give Eastern the lead.

Panhandle managed to cut the deficit in half on a Madison Heathington first inning homer.

Eastern capitalized on an Aggie error in the fourth inning, sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs to take a 6-1 lead. Burke and Chandler both had RBI singles in the inning.

Eastern sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on five hits, while capitalizing on three errors. Cameron Conrad delivered a two-run triple during the inning to score Peneku and Katie Ripple.

The Aggies also sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning and scored seven runs to pull within four runs, 14-10.

Kiana Zerr went four innings to notch the win for the Greyhounds, while Ripple tossed one and one-third innings of relief. Rogers notched her second save of the season and allowed just one hit over the final innings.

Conrad batted 3-for-3 with a double, triple, and pair of RBIs. Faagalulu, Lopez, and Burke each had two hits.

The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will conclude the regular season April 28 with a Lone Star Conference series at home against West Texas A&M. The teams will open with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.