Eastern softball team swept in Lubbock

LUBBOCK, Texas — Monday’s Panhandle weather was pleasant, but Monday’s doubleheader was not especially so for Eastern New Mexico’s softball team, which gave up 25 total runs while getting swept on the road by Lubbock Christian.

Eastern dropped the first game 10-2 and the nightcap 15-7. The Greyhounds, though, actually led the opener 2-1 in the second inning. They trailed 1-0 in that frame when Samantha Brockman led off with a walk. Two outs later it seemed the Hounds might not get any runs, but Karina Moreno then belted a two-run homer to give her team a one-run edge.

Those, however, were the only runs Eastern scored in the opening game. Lubbock Christian starter Monique Francis (21-5) went the distance, holding ENMU to just six hits while striking out seven and walking only two.

Precious Aguirre and Erikka Burke accounted for two-thirds of the Eastern hits, collecting two apiece.

The second game was all Lubbock Christian, who scored three in the first inning, five each in the second and third, and two more in the fifth.

Eastern actually outhit Lubbock Christian 11-10. Burke, Ashley Lopez and Elysa Rodriguez supplied two hits each, with Rodriguez’s day including a homer and four RBIs. Kiana Zerr had two RBIs for the Greyhounds, Lopez one RBI on a solo homer.

Taylor Hinojos (2-4) earned the win for Lubbock Christian (29-14).

The home runs from Moreno, Rodriguez and Lopez helped put ENMU over the 50-homer mark for the second time in program history. The Hounds were at 51 after Monday; the only other time they surpassed 50 was 2006 when they belted a program-record 57.

The Greyhounds (18-31) will next play on Friday, when they begin a three-game series at West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. Friday’s game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

The Hounds then play a Saturday doubleheader against A&M, with the opener slated for a noon start.