SOFTBALL TRAVELS TO LUBBOCK FOR ITS SECOND TOURNAMENT OF THE SEASON

Eastern New Mexico softball prepare for its second tournament of the season, as the Hounds will travel to Lubbock, Texas for the Lubbock Sports College Softball Classic. The tournament welcomes 11 different programs from around the region, with a total of 26 games being played over four days. ENMU start the tournament against Fort Lewis College on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. (MST), then face Northwestern Oklahoma State University at 5 p.m. (MST), both of Friday’s games will be played at Lubbock Christian High School. The following day, the Hounds take on Colorado Christian University at 11 a.m. (MST), and will play Chadron State College at 5 p.m., and will wrap up its trip against University of Colorado-Colorado Springs at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning (All games on Saturday and Sunday will be played at PlainsCapital Park on the campus of Lubbock Christian University).

LAST TIME OUT

The Greyhounds enter weekend at 2-2, after win one gane on each day of the South Central Region Crossover, winning twice against New Mexico Highlands, 9-3 and 9-1 (5 Inn.). Over the weekend, Brook Leger picked up two wins in the circle, tallying 25 strikeouts. At the plate, Lisette Urquidez led the team with nine RBI’s and launched two home runs over the weekend.

SCOUTING THE HOUNDS

Collectively, ENMU hold a batting average of .309 with an on-base percentage of .393. Overall, the Hounds have scored 27 runs and compiled 25 RBI’s after the first weekend. In the circle, Eastern have an earned run average of 9.23, allowed just 30 runs, and recorded 30 strikeouts.

Jokaira Paredes is the team’s leader in batting average, sporting a .500 average with four hits and three walks. Urquidez and Sierra Wooley lead the team in runs scored with five, and Azalea Martinez and Wooley add four RBI’s, behind Urquidez’ leading nine runs batted in. Leger has two complete games this season on the mound holding an ERA of 2.86 and a record of 2-0 in three appearances.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Fort Lewis

The Skyhawks will play its season opener on Friday after holding a 20-23 record, including a 19-17 standing in conference play in 2021. Fort Lewis were picked to finish 7^th this season in the RMAC preseason softball poll.

Overall in 2021, FLC held a batting average of .282, totaling 324 hits, scoring 193 runs, and 178 RBI’s. Defensively, the Skyhawks held opposing hitters to a .318 batting average and posted an ERA of 4.64. Fort Lewis pitchers conceded 227 runs and recorded 196 punchouts.

Fort Lewis have a very young roster under new head coach Dwight Sanders. Key returners for the Skyhawks include Jadyn Gilley and Taylor Beaman, who finished with batting averages of .238 and .267, respectively. The Skyhawks will have a new pitching staff as Hailie Mann, Amiee Shanks, Alex Tenorio, and Cat Rodman will feature on the mound for the Skyhawks.

Northwestern Oklahoma State

The Rangers will make its season debut this weekend, after finishing the 2021 campaign with an 8-31 record, and 3-30 in conference play. NOSU were picked to finish 12^th in the Great American Conference (GAC) Preseason Softball Coach’s Poll.

In 2021, the Rangers posted a batting average of .255, scoring 137 runs off of 253 hits, with 122 RBI’s. The Northwestern Oklahoma State pitching staff held teams to just 355 total hits and allowed 284 runs, with an ERA of 6.61.

Individually, two-way player Hannah Howell returns to the team after hold a team best .383 batting average with 44 hits and 25 RBI’s. In the circle, Howell had an ERA of 5.68 making 21 appearances with 17 starts, and nine complete games. Additionally, Hannah Scoggin returns after holding the teams best ERA at 5.42, and Allison Zanca also comes back after having a .295 batting average in 2021.

Colorado Christian

Colorado Christian made its season debut last week in the South Central Region Crossover, going 4-0 with a win over the Hounds, 13-9. The Cougars also won games against Western New Mexico, 11-3, and beat Texas Permian Basin twice: 8-0 and 6-2.

So far this season, CCU post a batting average of .405 with 38 runs scored on 47 hits. The Cougars have 34 RBI’s and 18 extra base hits. The pitching staff has an ERA of 4.88 with 18 strikeouts, and allowing just 23 hits.

Sami Edwards is the current batting leader, holding a .643 batting average with nine hits. Kenzie Middleton leads the team in hits (10) and RBI’s (10), along with a BA of .625. On the mound, Sydney Rawlings has a 2-0 record starting both games. Alexis Hamilton has one complete game this season and the best ERA, 1.00.

Chadron State

The Eagles are set for its first games of 2022 this weekend. Last season, Chadron State had a record of 13-27, with a 13-23 RMAC record. This season, CSC were piped to finish 9^th in the RMAC Softball Preseason Poll.

In 2021, the Eagles had a batting average of .283, with 304 hits, 176 runs scored, and 166 RBI’s. In the circle, Chadron State sported an ERA of 6.55 with 288 runs allowed, conceding 368 hits, and 144 strikeouts.

Leading hitter, Bailey Steinke, is back after holding a .399 batting average, with 55 hits, and 71 total bases in 2021 (all team highs). Sloane Quijas rejoins the Eagles after producing 24 RBI’s last season and starting every game for CSC. As for the Eagles arms, all pitchers are returning for Chadron State. Peyton Propp led the staff with a 5.10 ERA, six wins, and seven complete games.

UC-Colorado Springs

The Mountain Lions enter this weekend at 1-1 following a split with Humboldt State, winning 13-5 and an 8-4 loss. UCCS will play four games this upcoming weekend beginning on Saturday, Feb. 12.

Through its first two games, UC-Colorado Springs hold a batting average of .379 with 22 hits, scoring 17 runs with 15 RBIs. In the field, UCCS has an earned run average of 6.46 and have allowed 13 runs during its first weekend series. Opponents are hitting .308 against the Mountain Lions pitching and have found 16 hits.

Sawyer Brewster holds an impressive .833 batting average after the first weekend, with five hits, three runs scored, and one RBI. Peyton Reisman and Paige White are tied for the team lead in RBI’s with four. In the circle, Braelyne Crenshaw has the lone win in 5.2 IP, holding an ERA of 6.18. Crenshaw also leads the team with six strikeouts.