ENMU softball team falls to Rambelles, LCU

LUBBOCK — Eastern New Mexico University’s softball team is currently mired in a seven-game losing streak. Then again, you have to consider that the level of competition is pretty high.

ENMU has played four consecutive doubleheaders against ranked Lone Star Conference opponents, winning the first game against then-No. 23 Texas A&M-Commerce but coming up short since then against the Lions, top-ranked Texas-Tyler and, over the weekend, No. 18 Angelo State and No. 15 Lubbock Christian.

On Monday, the Greyhounds (8-16, 1-7 LSC) managed just one hit in each game, scratching out a run without a hit in the seventh inning of the nightcap, in dropping 8-0 and 6-1 decisions to the Lady Chaps after losing 2-1 and 8-7 on Saturday at Angelo. Both twin bills were pushed back a day due to Thursday night’s inclement weather.

This isn’t the first year the program has struggled with ASU and LCU. All-time, the Hounds are 9-59 against the Rambelles, including losses in the last 14 matchups, and 0-39 against Lubbock Christian.

The Hounds, who have dropped 13 of 14 since a 7-3 start, return to Greyhound Softball Field this weekend. They figure to get a stiff test from unranked Texas A&M-Kingsville (22-3, 6-2) on Friday before welcoming Texas A&M International (8-19, 2-6) on Sunday.

Other than the lack of hitting and a couple of costly errors, ENMU pitching actually kept the potent Lady Chaps’ offense in relative check.

Sophomore Brook Leger (7-7) went three innings in the opener, allowing three hits and three unearned runs. Freshman Taylor Harrison got through the fourth before the Lady Chaps (21-3, 7-1) erupted for five consecutive one-out extra-base hits, capped by back-to-back homers by catcher Tyla Lee — a two-run shot — and third baseman Kasey Flores, to end it on the eight-run rule after five.

Senior right-hander Taylor Franco (11-1) threw her fourth shutout of the season and second against ENMU. The only baserunner for the Hounds came on a fourth-inning single by center fielder Azalea Martinez.

In Game 2, LCU got a run-scoring single from first baseman Kasey Flores in the first, RBI hits from catcher Tiarra Delrosario and shortstop Brooke Makemson in the second and a run-scoring groundout by designated player Angela Donaldson in the third.

Leger came in to work the final three frames, surrendering an RBI single to Donaldson and a run-scoring groundout by Athena Muniz in the fifth.

Angelo State 2-8, ENMU 1-7 (Saturday) — After missing a bases-loaded, none-out opportunity in the top of the fourth, the Hounds broke through in the sixth when shortstop Jokaira Paredes delivered an RBI single. But the Rambelles (19-5, 4-4) tied it in the bottom half as first baseman Paxton Scheurer doubled home a run.

Then third baseman Madison Fernandez led off the ASU with a single and advanced to second on an outfield error. Leger issued back-to-back walks to load the bases, and shortstop Mykayla Stroud singled through the left side to score pinch-runner Maleya Burns.

Angelo State’s Genesis Armendariz (9-3) allowed five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Leger also went the distance, giving up five hits and five walks while striking out 10.

ENMU freshman first baseman Lisette Urquidez and ASU catcher Keilei Garcia each posted a pair of hits.

In the nightcap, ENMU pulled to 4-3 in the fifth when center fielder Sierra Wooley tripled home a run and scored on a single by Urquidez. The Rambelles appeared to put the contest out of reach with a four-run sixth highlighted by a two-run double from designated player Ashlynn Box, but the Hounds made a game of it with four in the seventh against reliever Ashton McMillan.

One run scored on a wild pitch before Paredes walked to reload the bases. Starter Torrey Hogan (7-1) re-entered in the circle and Leger whacked a three-run double into right-center, only to be thrown out at third to end it.

Stroud finished 3-for-3 and scored twice for the Rambelles, who outhit ENMU 9-6. No one had more than one hit for the Hounds.