Softball team sets records

PORTALES — The good news for the Eastern New Mexico softball team in its home debut on Monday? It set a new program record for hits and tied a program record for runs in a single game.

The good news for New Mexico Highlands, Monday’s visitor? Everybody decided it wouldn’t be a record-setting doubleheader.

Due to high winds that made the game a chore to watch and play in despite gaudy offensive numbers, the Greyhounds and Cowgirls decided Monday’s 28-7 opener was enough for both parties.

For the Greyhounds, who open Lone Star Conference action at home this week against Angelo State, the game turned into a practice session well before they ended the third inning with a 23-1 advantage.

“No matter what score you have, we always want to focus on doing things well,” Greyhound coach Kara Zeiter said. “We were focusing our efforts on small ball and hitting into the opposite field at that point.”

Hanna Gary allowed seven runs — four earned — on seven hits in her five innings of work, with no walks and seven strikeouts to improve to 2-2 on the season. She also went 5-for-5 with three RBIs and an RBI double in the third to help her cause.

The Greyhounds (4-4) sent 49 batters to the plate in four innings against Cowgirls starter Isabella Scarale and Desiree Bodigan, and managed a school-record 29 hits with two doubles and four homers — none of them solo shots.

Catcher Parker Smith went 5-for-5 and scored four times while driving in a pair of runs, and left fielder Jenny McElroy went 4-for-4 on the day with a two-run homer in the third, a walk and a school-record five runs scored. Smith and Gary both tied the school mark for hits in a game.

Emma Gary had a team-high six RBIs on a 4-for-4 day that included an RBI single in the first and both a two-run homer and two-run double in the second.

The Greyhounds’ 29 hits and 28 runs broke and tied school records of 23 and 28, respectively, both set in a 28-0 win over University of the Southwest in 2008.

Nobody had a multi-hit game for the Cowgirls, but pinch hitter Victoria Reyes had a two-run single in the fifth.

The Greyhounds will entertain the Rambelles, ranked No. 6 nationally, with a 4 p.m. opener Friday and a noon doubleheader Saturday.

“They’re very good,” Zeiter said. “We’ve got to be quick in the infield, and make strong throws from the outfield.”

Saturday (St. Edward’s 4, ENMU 1) — Iliana Vara won her first decision of the season, allowing one run on just two hits with four walks issued.

Greyhound starter Kimberly Herron allowed three hits in her 2.2 innings of work, and was haunted by six free passes allowed to Hilltopper hitters.

St. Edward’s loaded the bases on Herron in the first and scored on a fielder’s choice and groundout, then put up a pair of insurance runs in the seventh with a Valerie Brant RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Caylei Allen.

The Greyhounds scored their lone run in the fifth on an RBI double by Karina Moreno.