Zias complete 2-1 first weekend

Staff report

WEATHERFORD, Okla. — Junior right fielder Marleyna Pinon hit a tie-breaking, two-out solo home run in the top of the fourth inning and the Eastern New Mexico University softball team went on to a 14-9 victory over Washburn on Sunday, wrapping up play 2-1 in the season-opening Southwestern Oklahoma round-robin.

The Zias pounded out 17 hits en route to winning two of their first three games in a season for the first time since 2006.

Pinon’s home run was her second of the weekend. Washburn’s Lauren Thimmesch homered twice in the contest, giving her four in the first two games for the Topeka, Kan.-based Ichabods, who later blanked Southwestern Oklahoma 8-0 to finish the opening weekend 1-2.

Freshman designated player Simone Laurenz of Portales went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Laurenz singled home two runs and sophomore shortstop Audrey Velasquez hit a three-run double in ENMU’s five-run sixth which opened a 13-5 lead over the Ichabods.

Freshman left-hander Aja Secheslingloff (2-0) earned her second win of the weekend, working four innings in relief of starter Katie Ripple.

Sophomore left fielder Savannah Chavez also had three hits for the Zias, who got at least one hit from all nine starters.

Washburn finished with 12 hits, with catcher Kristen Bell going 3-for-4 and Thimmesch, left fielder Jordan Erickson and pitcher/DP Taylor Kemp all finishing 2-for-4. Thimmesch hit a leadoff home run in the sixth and added a two-run shot in the seventh.

ENMU returns to action this weekend with five games in the Desert Stinger tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., beginning with a 3 p.m. clash on Friday against St. Cloud State.