OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. – The Eastern New Mexico University softball team (18-27) traded big innings at Oklahoma Christian (24-16), as the teams exchanged victories, Tuesday at Tom Heath Field. Eastern, Audrey Velasquez drove in three runs in the opener, en-route to an 11-3 victory, while the Eagles bounced back with an 11-2 win in the nightcap.
The split pushed OCU to 7-3 in the overall series, although the Hounds are 2-2 in road games against the Eagles. The teams met five times this season, with Eastern’s win today snapping a four game skid in the series. ENMU’s eight runs in the second inning of the opener matched a season high, also accomplished in the sixth frame against Colorado Christian on February 12, 2017.
Game 1
The opener saw OCU seize a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but the Hounds sent 14 batters to the plate in the top of the second inning and capitalized on two walks and a hit batsmen. Eastern also pounded out eight runs on seven hits. The Eagle lead evaporated after four straight bases-loaded RBI singles from Samantha Glover, Velasquez, Erikka Burke, and Kylee Keller.
The opener saw OCU seize a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but the Hounds sent 14 batters to the plate in the top of the second inning and capitalized on two walks and a hit batsmen. Eastern also pounded out eight runs on seven hits. The Eagle lead evaporated after four straight bases-loaded RBI singles from Samantha Glover, Velasquez, Erikka Burke, and Kylee Keller.
A RBI ground out closed OCU to within 8-3, but Greyhound starter Kaylee Rogers stranded two runners to escape the jam. Velasquez tripled in two runs in the ENMU fifth and scored on a Burke sacrifice fly to give the Hounds an eight-run lead.
Rogers allowed just three hits to notch her 14th win of the season. The Hounds are 8-3 when scoring 6-9 runs this season. Cameron Conrad batted three-for-three with a double.
Game 2
The Eagles also took a 2-0 lead in the nightcap, but ENMU responded in the top of the third inning. A walk to Courtney Vigil followed by singles from Tiana Faagalulu and Christina Pease loaded the bases with no outs. Velasquez cracked a sacrifice fly to get Eastern on the board, and Burke followed with a game-tying double.
The Eagles also took a 2-0 lead in the nightcap, but ENMU responded in the top of the third inning. A walk to Courtney Vigil followed by singles from Tiana Faagalulu and Christina Pease loaded the bases with no outs. Velasquez cracked a sacrifice fly to get Eastern on the board, and Burke followed with a game-tying double.
The Eagles plated six runs in the bottom of the inning and never looked back on the way to an 11-2 win. Katie Ripple singled in the third inning to extend her hit streak to five games.
Up Next
This weekend, the Eastern New Mexico will host Cameron University in a Lone Star Conference series. The teams will meet in a doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m. MST. They will conclude the series on Saturday, with a single game at noon.
This weekend, the Eastern New Mexico will host Cameron University in a Lone Star Conference series. The teams will meet in a doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m. MST. They will conclude the series on Saturday, with a single game at noon.
