Dexter sweeps past Portales softball

PORTALES — Dexter softball's Bryana and Aryana Munoz made life difficult on Portales hitters during Saturday's doubleheader. Bryana struck out 15 Rams in a 5-1 Game 1 victory for the Demons, while Aryana had a three-hit shutout in a 5-0 Game 2 win.

"They do a good job of hitting their spots. They're two different looks, that's what's nice about them. Bry has the speed, whereas Aryana kinda comes with the spin and induces balls. I personally think Ary's a little more fun to play behind, because you get to play," Demons coach Kim Smith said, laughing.

In Game 1, Dexter (13-1) used a big sixth inning to break the game open. Tied at 1-1 to start the top of the sixth, Yaiaira Sosa led-off with a single past second base, before a Kelsey Stevie walk.

Allyson Madden then broke the tie with a two-run triple to the right field corner. After Zooey Neeld's bunt single, Bryana Munoz hit a hard double down the third base line, bringing home Madden and Neeld to extend the lead to 5-1.

As for Munoz, she came out dealing, as she struck out the side in the first inning, before striking out three of the four batters she faced in the second inning. In fact, it was only in the fifth inning when she finally ran into some trouble against the Rams (3-7).

After two quick outs made things appear to be another typical inning for Munoz, Kim Hay blasted a home run over the center field fence to tie the game up at 1-1. An errant throw to first then allowed Micaela Garcia to reach safely, but a fielder's choice on a Devyn Lopez grounder soon ended any potential rally.

In all, Munoz struck out 15 batters and allowed just four hits — two of which were by Racquel Moreno. Game 2, meanwhile, mirrored Game 1, in that Dexter had one big inning to break the game open, along with another dominant pitching performance.

The Demons started off the top of the second inning with a walk and a bunt single from Ana Cereceres and Stevie. Sosa then had a short bloop to center field, before Portales pitcher Wendy Baeza walked in Klarisse Banda to put the Demons on the board first.

With the bases loaded and still just one out, Bryana Munoz was hit on the head, bringing home another run. Aryana Munoz then had a two-run single up the middle to extend the Demon lead to 4-0.

That proved to be all that Aryana needed for her own cause, as she allowed just three hits to the Rams (Lopez, Jeuliece Chavez, Sarah Lovato), despite notching just a single strikeout. According to Rams coach Nathan Dodge, better plate awareness would have benefited Portales on Saturday afternoon.

"We've got to learn to make an adjustment from one pitcher to the next," Dodge explained. "I think we did better with the faster pitcher (Bryana Munoz) — at least we were putting the ball in play. The second pitcher (Aryana Munoz), we put the ball in play, but we just weren't sitting back, letting it travel. We were out in front, rolling over."

While Dexter is off to a strong start and could be well on its way to a 3A state title, things have been shakier to start the year for Portales. It took the Rams 15 games in 2017 to reach seven losses, compared to 10 this year.

Ultimately, Dodge believes it comes down to finding ways to win games. "We've played some tough competition, but we've got to learn to win those close ones," Dodge said. "We got to break it open, instead of giving it up. We're giving up those big innings (and) we want to be the one scoring those big innings."

The Rams will begin a four-game road swing with a doubleheader at Artesia on Tuesday afternoon.