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Home sweep home for Greyhound softball

ENMU wins weather-delayed doubleheader over WNMU; final game 10 a.m. today.

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico's softball team had to wait a day to make its home and Lone Star Conference debuts. But it was worth the wait.

Rain pushed Friday's home-opening double-header against LSC foe Western New Mexico to Saturday, and when the Greyhounds finally took Greyhound Field, they swept the Mustangs by winning 2-1 in a regular seven-inning game and 9-1 in five innings.

In the first game, a pitcher's duel, Eastern's Leslie Reyes came out on top, working all seven innings and allowing just three hits to go with four strikeouts. She did walk three and plunked one, but overcame that.

ENMU needed a rally to win this one, already trailing 1-0 after the top of the first inning and still down by that score heading into the bottom of the second. The Hounds, though, tied it in that frame. Karina Moreno led off with a single, followed by a single from Jennifer McElroy. On the throw in, McElroy took second while Moreno grabbed third.

An out later, Moreno scored on a fielder's choice by Kamalani Peneku, tying the game at 1.

Eastern went ahead in the fourth inning, scoring what turned out to be the game-winner. It was Moreno again getting the inning cooking with a leadoff single, and McElroy once again followed with a single of her own. An out later, Moreno went to third on a dropped ball in the outfield, and when Elena Garcia followed with a single, Moreno scored to make it 2-1, which held up through the game's remainder.

The second game saw another well-pitched game for Eastern, but a much more prolific offense. Kimberly Herron (1-1) tossed a five-inning gem, allowing just one hit while striking out six and walking none.

The Greyhound offense was led by Erikka Burke and Garcia, who each clubbed a home run and had two RBI. Burke was 2-for-3 in the game, Garcia 1-for-3.

McElroy went 2-for-3, including a double and an RBI, boosting her season average to .529.

Elysa Rodriguez was 2-for-2 and Ashley Lopez whacked a double, helping the Greyhounds improve to 7-5 overall, 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference.

Western's Ariana Maldonado clouted a double, the only Mustang hit off Herron. The Mustangs dropped to 1-11 overall, 0-2 in LSC play.

Eastern led by a modest 2-1 score in the third inning of the twinbill finale before plating four runs in the bottom of that frame to break the game open. Kayla Marshall drew a walk to lead off the fourth, followed by Burke's two-run blast to center field, making it 4-1.

An out later, Lopez ripped a double to right-center and stole third soon after. Moreno then walked, and McElroy walloped a double that scored Lopez and sent Moreno to third. Garcia hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Moreno to give Eastern a 6-1 cushion.

After two more Greyhound runs crossed in the fourth inning and one more in the fifth, the game ended and Eastern had won for the sixth time in its last seven tries.

ENMU will conclude its weekend series with the Mustangs today, with a 10 a.m. home game.

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