Zias split season opener

Freedom New Mexico

Freedom New Mexico

Freshman shortstop Melissa Reynosa went 4-for-6 in Eastern New Mexico’s season-opening doubleheader, helping the Zias pull a split against Texas-Permian Basin and St. Mary’s to open the St. Mary’s Tournament.

The Zias won their opener 4-1 over Permian Basin behind a solid pitching performance from freshman Alberta Medina, and dropped a 5-4 decision to a St. Mary’s squad bouyed by Alexandra Garcia’s two-run, sixth-inning homer.

Eastern broke through in the opener with a three-run third inning, where eight Zias went to the plate. Freshmen Savannah Chavez and Aurelia Sandoval both hit RBI singles, Sandoval’s a two-run hit. Senior Melanie Alderette added insurance with an RBI single in the fourth, while Medina allowed four hits in her 4 1/3 innings of work.

Reynosa got the Zias started in the second game with a two-run single in the fourth, and the Zias added runs on a fourth-inning wild pitch and a sixth-inning RBI single by Kuuleio-kealoaha VonSchritz.

The Zias got a leadoff double from Reynosa to start the sixth, but St. Mary’s reliever Emily Brittain retired the next three hitters for the save.

The Zias are back in action in the tournament 9 a.m., when they take on Texas A&M-International.