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Zias lose four straight

PHOENIX — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team has dropped four consecutive games in the Schutt Sports Division II Leadoff Classic, losing a doubleheader to Hawaii-Hilo on Wednesday by scores of 7-3 and 8-1, and falling Thursday to Central Washington 4-3 and to Cameron 10-5.

The Zias (8-8) are slated to meet Cal State-Dominguez at 1:30 p.m. Friday before entering bracket play. The event concludes on Saturday.

Central Washington (1-0) plated two runs each in the first and third innings and held on to beat the Zias.

Sara Badgley pitched a complete-game three-hitter with 10 strikeouts for the Wildcats, while first baseman Mallory Holtman led a 14-hit attack by going 4-for-4 with a double and a solo homer.

The Zias got on the board in the fourth on a single by Valerie Villela, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Rebecca Quinones. In the seventh, Nicole Dickson was hit by a pitch with one out and rode home on Alex Mayo-Otis’ two-run homer to right-center, but Badgley got a groundout and a strikeout to end it.

Fellow Lone Star Conference member Cameron got its first win of the season after eight losses in the late game.

On Wednesday, Hilo’s Tracy Ryan struck out eight in a complete game in the opener. She gave up a home run to ENMU’s Rebecca Quinones, her second of the season.

Leo Sing Chow hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-4 for the Vulcans, while Haunani Haasenritter also homered and Vanessa Badosa was 3-for-4.

Sing Chow earned the victory in the nightcap, supported by another home run from Haasenritter.