Angelo State sweeps Hounds to open LSC softball series

PORTALES — After surviving a scare in the opener of Friday’s Lone Star Conference doubleheader at Greyhound Softball Field, Angelo State made sure it wasn’t in for another nailbiter in the nightcap.

Ranked eighth in NCAA Division II, the Rambelles escaped a second-and-third, none-out jam in the sixth inning to hold on for a 4-3 win over Eastern New Mexico University in the first game, then rocketed 23 hits around the ballpark in a five-inning, 23-8 run-rule triumph in the nightcap.

The teams finish the three-game series with a noon contest today.

Freshman Kaylee Rogers (9-9) started and took the loss in both games. She threw 148 pitches in going the distance in the opener.

ASU (23-1, 7-0 LSC) broke a scoreless tie on an RBI single by Alexis Evans in the fourth inning, and went up 4-0 on a two-run homer by right fielder Courtney Barnhill, her eighth of the season, in the sixth.

Held to one hit through five innings by Brandy Marlett (9-1), who finished with 17 strikeouts and one walk, ENMU (13-18, 6-5) loaded the bases on three singles to start the sixth. First baseman Erikka Burke was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run, and two more scored when Adriana Carabajal’s grounder was misplayed by Evans at first base.

After Carabajal stole second, Marlett got a strikeout, then pinch-runner Preciouos Aguirre was thrown out at home trying to score on a short passed ball. Marlett got Cameron Conrad on strikes to end the inning and set the side down in order in the seventh.

In the second game, ASU scored at least four runs in each of the five innings and led 19-0 after 3 1/2. Shortstop Alexis Evans drove in six runs for the Rambelles, while Alexis Evans and Kelly Johnson homered.

ENMU broke through for two runs in the fourth, then sent 11 batters to the plate in a six-run fifth that inclluded a two-run single by Samantha Glover.