Zias split LSC tilts with Kingsville

Staff report

PORTALES — With only one Lone Star Conference win — in its LSC opener, no less — coming into this weekend’s season-ending four-game series against Texas A&M-Kingsville at Zia Field, the Eastern New Mexico University softball team needed three wins to be able to escape the LSC cellar.

Freshman Cailin Garmon got the Zias off to a good start with a six-inning two-hitter in a run-rule-shortened 9-1 win in the opener, but the Javelinas came back to take the second game 9-3.

Now ENMU (14-39, 2-23 LSC) needs a sweep of today’s noon doubleheader to overhaul the Javelinas (13-41, 4-22) for seventh place in the eight-team circuit.

Garmon (6-20), who took the loss in the nightcap, allowed only a pair of singles and struck out five in the opener. She gave up an unearned run — on no hits — in the sixth as the Javs pulled to 4-1, but ENMU ended it against Kat Tapley (3-8) when Kyra Sirag’s squeeze bunt — the second of the inning — scored Audrey Velasquez with the fifth run of the inning.

ENMU pounded out 11 hits off Tapley, including two each for Amanda Martinez, Velasquez and Marleyna Pinon.

Kingsville quickly took control of the second game, scoring three times in the top of the first against Garmon and never looking back. Clark (5-19) finished with an eight-hitter, needing just 92 pitches.

Shortstop Erica Graham led a 10-hit Javs attack, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. Third baseman Valerie Ramirez and first baseman Adela Gomez each added a pair of hits.

The Zias pulled to 3-1 in the second on an RBI single by first baseman Erica Amendarez. ENMU added an unearned run in the fifth, and junior third baseman Lizzy Velasquez capped the scoring with a leadoff homer in the seventh.