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Zias' win streak snapped at seven

Freedom New Mexico

DENTON, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University’s high-flying softball team got off to a fast start on Saturday. Then the Zias came crashing to earth.

Texas Woman’s overcame an early 5-0 deficit to win the first game of their Lone Star Conference South Division doubleheader 7-5, then broke open the second game with a four-run fifth en route to a 6-1 victory.

The losses snapped ENMU’s seven-game winning streak.

Kristen Cruickshank singled home a run in the first inning of the opener, and the Zias put together a four-run second featuring a two-run single by Alex Mayo Otis and Cruickshank’s run-scoring double.

Texas Woman’s Alli Packer then settled in, allowing just three hits over the final five innings. Meantime, the Pioneers (13-11, 2-1 South) pulled close with a four-run third capped by designated player Megan Warren’s second home run of the season, a three-run shot to center.

The Pioneers took the lead with two runs in the fourth off Kimberly Crouse (5-4), then added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.

The Zias (12-7, 1-2) put two on with one out in the third and wasted catcher Michelle Anderson’s leadoff triple in the fifth. Mayo Otis, Cruickshank and Anderson each had two of ENMU’s seven hits off Packer (2-3).

In the second game, TWU’s Ashley Martin held the Zias to six hits and struck out nine. ENMU closed to 2-1 in the top of the fifth on Laura Thompson’s two-out single and an RBI double to right field by Mayo Otis.

The Pioneers struck for two runs in the first, one scoring on an illegal pitch by Cruickshank (6-3). Texas Woman’s managed only one more hit until the fifth when it scored four times on five hits.

Shortstop Jessica Lamonica and left fielder Billie Callahan doubled home runs, while third baseman Erin Hinojosa hit an RBI single. The final run came home on another illegal pitch.

Thompson and designated player Brittany Regalado each had two hits for the Zias.