Angelo State holds off Zia softball squad

As far as moral victories go, Eastern New Mexico University’s softball team couldn’t complain with losing by a combined five runs to Angelo State, the No. 6 team in NCAA Division II.

But the visiting Rambelles earned a pair of Lone Star Conference victories, holding off a late Zias rally in the nightcap to secure a 6-3, 6-4 sweep on Friday afternoon at Zia Field.

The two teams complete the series today with a noon doubleheader.

On the strength of a Lizzy Velasquez two-out, two-run homer in the fourth inning, the Zias (12-6, 0-2 LSC) pulled even in the opener at 3-3 with the Rambelles (17-1, 4-0) before a key error in the fifth led to three Angelo runs.

Zias freshman left-hander Aja Secheslingloff (8-3) took the loss despite scattering six hits over seven innings and notching three strikeouts. Angelo State’s Kenedy Urbany(9-0) picked up the first-game win, and homered in each game for the Rambelles.

The Zias struck first in the nightcap with a two-out RBI double in the first by catcher Aurelia Sandoval, and the teams traded runs until Angelo State sent nine batters to the plate in a three-run fifth.

ENMU, which got homers in the nightcat from Sandoval and sophomore shortstop Susie Chandler, loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but ASU’s Brandy Marlett (8-1) escaped the jam to push the Rambelles’ winning streak to six. She tossed a complete game win with nine hits allowed and seven striekouts.