ENMU no-hit in series finale

PORTALES – As the song once said, what a difference a day makes.

Eastern New Mexico University's softball team pulled out a pair of tight wins on Tuesday to open its Lone Star Conference series against Texas Woman's at Greyhound Softball Field. On Wednesday, though, it was a whole different story.

Determined not to leave New Mexico empty-handed, the Pioneers got a six-inning no-hitter from junior right-hander Alyssa LeBlanc – who also had three hits at the plate – in an 11-0 romp.

All that said, the series win leaves the Greyhounds (23-25, 15-21) in 10th place in the 15-team league – by one-half game over TWU (21-23, 13-20) and Texas A&M International (17-27, 13-20), who each have three conference series remaining to just two for ENMU. The Hounds also have the tiebreaker over both squads, if it comes down to that.

Both coaches had completely different outlooks on Wednesday's tilt.

"We have a little team talk (after Tuesday's losses) and come out the next day and get the job done," TWU's Gay McNutt said.

ENMU was coming off a series loss at Midwestern State, which is near the bottom of the LSC.

"It's just so disappointing," coach Amanda Fefel said of Wednesday's rout. "You (clinch) the series (with Tuesday's sweep), and then you show up the next day and you're flat."

Texas Woman's scored in five of the six innings, breaking it wide open with a five-run sixth. Meantime, LeBlanc (14-10) issued a leadoff walk to ENMU freshman Marissa Rodriguez in the second frame – and nothing else.

LeBlanc, who has an earned run average of 1.66, is the dominant player for the Pioneers on both sides of the ball. She ranks in the top five in the LSC in numerous categories on offense.

"We have to apply pressure (on offense) from the start, because if we get down sometimes it's tough for us to come back," McNutt said.

On Wednesday, LeBlanc reached all four times with two infield hits (including a bunt), a double and a walk. In the circle, she struck out seven of the final eight batters and allowed only one ball to leave the infield.

On top of that, the Hounds committed four errors after having none in the doubleheader.

"Yesterday our defense helped us, but today it hurt us," Fefel said. "It just goes back to the next man up. If someone isn't getting it done, we need to have the next player come in an get it done.

"You can't give a team more than 21 outs in a game. And you can't produce (runs) if you don't put the ball in play."

One defensive play ENMU did make was a home run-robing snag by senior center fielder Azalea Martinez, who reached over the left-center field wall to haul in designated player Christiana Del Hierro's potential three-run homer in the third inning. Del Hierro had to settle for a sacrifice fly.

ENMU began a three-game series at fourth-place Oklahoma Christian (26-13, 21-12) on Saturday. After a non-league twin bill at New Mexico Highlands on Wednesday, the Hounds finish the regular campaign April 28-29 at home against Texas A&M Kingsville.

ENMU 2-4, Texas Woman's 1-3 (Tuesday) – After suffering a tough-luck loss in the opener, LeBlanc came off the bench to make Game 2 interesting with two out in the seventh, blasting a three-run, pinch-hit homer – her 17th, ranking her second in the LSC – off senior right-hander Brook Leger (11-7). Leger, though, came back to finish a four-hitter by getting pinch-hitter Jalee McDonald on strikes.

ENMU scored three times in the third, capped by senior second baseman Jokaira Paredes' RBI double, then made it 4-0 in the fourth on a run-scoring groundout by freshman Ashley Nickerson.

In the opener, all three runs came via the long ball. Rodriguez (4-4), who tossed a three-hitter in the circle, produced the deciding rum with her third homer of the spring, a blast to right-center off LeBlanc with one out in the fourth.

Junior catcher Ashley Vasquez put the Hounds in front on her team-leading seventh homer with two out in the first. TWU tied it in the next frame on catcher Delaney Boley's second round-tripper of the campaign.

"Both teams fought hard," McNutt said Wednesday of the twin bill. "It went their way and not ours."

Rodriguez walked three and struck out seven, while LeBlanc posted one walk and 12 strikeouts on a four-hitter.