Zias softball starts season 1-4

SAN ANGELO, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University won its first game in bracket play on Friday night by beating Colorado State-Pueblo 7-3, but lost twice on Saturday to finish a season-opening 1-4 weekend in the Angelo State Classic softball tournament.

The Zias dropped pool-play matches to University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma 14-0 and Washburn 9-3 on Friday before beating CSU-Pueblo. Saturday's losses were to Washburn 7-1 and to Oklahoma Panhandle State 9-2.

Catcher Kala Huske went 3-for-4 with a triple, a homer and four runs batted in as Washburn beat the Zias for the second time on Saturday. The Lady Blues chased ENMU starter Natasha Lindsey (0-1) with a three-run first that included consecutive RBI singles by Mandy Tarbutton, Jackie Sells and Brooke DeVader.

The Zias managed only three hits off WU's Erin Bryan. They got their lone run in the second on a run-scoring groundout by Tina Whitt.

Panhandle scored in all but one at-bat in cruising to its victory. The Lady Aggies' Jennifer Costeldia went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the sixth.

ENMU finished with five hits, getting on the board on a two-run triple by third baseman Adriana Reyes in the fifth.

Reyes was thrown out trying to stretch it into an inside-the-park homer.

On Friday, the Zias got their first win of the season by beating Pueblo behind the four-hit pitching of junior Amanda Nightingale, while Elizabeth Hawkins and Jessica Nocas each drove in two runs.

In pool play, Kindra Gregory spun a five-inning, two-hit for USAO, which opened a 6-0 lead with a five-run third and then added eight more in the fourth.

ENMU’s hits off Gregory were singles by Elizabeth Whipkey and Elizabeth Hawkins.

In the next game, Washburn got three hits, including a double and a triple, and four RBI from shortstop Amanda Carey. The Lady Blues broke the contest open with a five-run seventh.

Hawkins went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Zias, who collected six hits off Washburn pitchers Erin Pierce and Gloria Jobe.