Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 PORTALES, N.M. – Stepping out of conference for the first time in more than a month, the New Mexico Highlands softball team (11-21) lost to Eastern New Mexico (11-27) 11-3 in five innings in game one and 12-9 in the second game.
The Cowgirls struck first in both contests and outhit the Greyhounds in game two, 12-11, but Eastern New Mexico took advantage of three errors. In game two, redshirt freshman
Annie Reynolds led off the game with a walk and advanced to third on a single by junior
Jacquelyn Wood. A wild pitch later in the inning scored Reynolds to put the visitors up 1-0.
Eastern New Mexico went up 2-1 after the first, but Highlands struck for three more in the top of the second. Senior
Dominique Padilla walked to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to second. Junior
Amber Harding singled to put runners on the corners before Reynolds added an RBI single. A walk loaded the bases before junior
Tori Gil smashed a double to right center to score a pair.
Down 12-6 entering the top of the seventh, the Cowgirls scored three more to cut the deficit in half but climbed no closer. Sophomore
Amber Cordero led off the frame, advanced to third on a single and scored on an RBI groundout. Reynolds – who had three hits in as many at-bats with three RBI's and three runs scored – hit her third home run of the year, a two-run shot to left field.
Wood (6-8) took the loss in the second game, allowing eight runs (five earned) and five hits with two walks and a strikeout over 2.1 innings pitched.
The Greyhounds took the lead for good in the second game in the bottom of the third with six runs. Amanda Martinez led the bottom of the third off with a single and scored on a Jaqueline Candelaria single. An error put runners on the corners before a wild pitch knotted the game at four. An RBI groundout and an Alberta Medina single put the home team up 6-4. A bases loaded walk and an error allowed the final three runs of the inning to score.
Erica Armendarez led the home team in the second game with two home runs in as many at-bats with four RBI's, including a three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth that proved to be the winning runs. Throwing the final 5.2 innings in relief, Mary Jo Granger took the win for Eastern New Mexico, evening her record at 5-5.
Game one saw the home team win 11-3 in five innings. However, the Cowgirls struck first in the first. With two outs and no one on, junior
Jessica Brink and Gil both hit singles. Sophomore
Dekota Monarrez followed with a single to put Highlands up 1-0. Padilla added an RBI single in the third with Brink hitting her sixth home run to center field in the fifth – her sixth home run of the year.
Brink fell to 5-10 on the year, allowing 11 runs (seven earned) on 13 hits in four innings of work.
Trailing 1-0, Eastern New Mexico scored 11 runs in the second, third and fourth innings combined for the win. Aurelia Sandoval had three hits in as many at-bats with three runs scored and an RBI. Elizabeth Velasquez added a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth and had two hits in as many at-bats with two runs scored and five RBI's.
The Cowgirls return to action at home Saturday and Sunday with a pair of games against UC-Colorado Springs and Metro State. Play begins Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.
