Harrison's strong outing lifts ENMU

CANYON, Texas – Usually, Eastern New Mexico University’s softball team is relying on senior right-hander Brook Leger to bail them out of issues in the circle.

On Friday, it was the other way around. Leger, who came into the game with all four of the team’s wins this season, was chased when New Mexico Highlands pushed over four runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore righty Taylor Harrison relieved Leger with runners at the corners and one out, got a strikeout looking and a groundout to prevent further damage and went on to toss 5 2/3 innings of three-hit shutout ball in ENMU’s 6-4 win over the Cowgirls in the West Texas A&M Invitational.

In addition, Harrison’s single started a five-run rally with two out and no one on in the sixth.

Senior center fielder Azalea Martinez finished a single short of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a one-out homer in the first, a double in the fifth and a game-tying, two-run triple in the sixth. She scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

Harrison (1-0) walked one and struck out seven. First baseman Ashley Nickerson went 2-for-4 with an RBI for ENMU, which outhit the Cowgirls 9-7, while catcher Heaven Medina led Highlands (3-2) with three hits and an RBI.

ENMU’s late game on Friday against Fort Lewis was moved to today, where the teams will now play a doubleheader now starting at 9 a.m. (MST). On Saturday, the Greyhounds (5-3) were slated to face Colorado Mesa before taking on Highlands again.

Baseball team walks to first win – After getting swept in four games at fifth-ranked Angelo State on opening weekend, ENMU’s baseball team took advantage of four walks, two hit batsmen and just two singles to score seven runs in the seventh inning and rally for a 9-3 win over Texas A&M International at Greyhound Field.

Senior right-hander Cody Templeton pitched six solid innings for the Dustdevils (0-5, 0-5 LSC), who were swept in their opening series by West Texas A&M, but the bullpen fell completely apart as the Greyhounds erased a 3-2 deficit.

With one out in the seventh, two hit batsmen around three walks forced in three runs and gave the Hounds a 5-3 lead. Sophomore shortstop Demetrio Archuleta and junior first baseman Cooper Hamilton then delivered two-run singles to put the game out of reach.

Sophomore right-hander Julian Lopez (1-0) worked three shutout innings for the win, allowing one hit with one walk and three strikeouts. Starter Adrian Rubio pitched around six hits and four walks through six innings, allowing three runs (one earned).

ENMU outhit the Dustdevils 9-7, with left fielder Jonatan Clough, first baseman Nick Schifftner and Archuleta all going 2-for-4. Sophomore shortstop Willie Ponce went 0-for-4, but drove in a pair of runs with a ground ball and a hit-by-pitch.

The teams played a pair of seven-inning games on Saturday and are to conclude their series with a 1 p.m. nine-inning single tilt today.