ENMU suffers softball sweep

In the midst of a Lone Star Conference season where runs haven’t come easily, Texas A&M-Kingsville found just enough to survive on Friday at Greyhound Softball Field.

The Javelinas rallied back from a 3-0 first-inning deficit, outscoring Eastern New Mexico University 12-4 the rest of the afternoon to double their LSC win total with an 8-5, 4-1 sweep Friday.

The teams complete the series with a noon doubleheader today.

Karri Smith picked up the win for Kingsville (12-19, 4-10 LSC), allowing five runs on eight hits, and helped her cause with an insurance RBI double in the seventh.

Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

ENMU catcher Kyra Sirag and third baseman Morgan Greene have Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Alexei Gonzalez trapped in the beginning of a 4-2-5-1-2 putout in the fourth inning of the opener in Friday’s Lone Star Conference softball doubleheader at Greyhound Softball Field. The Javelinas swept the twin bill 8-5 and 4-1.

The Javelinas entered Friday’s twin bill with an 87-41 run deficit in LSC play. It looked like the struggles would continue as the Greyhounds (10-26, 3-15) loaded the bases with one out in the first, then got an RBI single from Morgan Greene and a two-run single by Natasha Kissell.

The fourth inning, however, turned the tide as the Javelinas tallied five times, starting with a two-run single by Haley Boyett. First baseman Victoria Schoonard-Seborio delivered a two-run double and later scored on Rachael Longoria’s single.

The Greyhounds cut into the deficit with a two-run single by catcher Kyra Sirag, but never got closer.

Kiana Zerr (2-9) allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits with three walks and a strikeout for the Greyhounds.

The nightcap was scoreless through five, but Kingsville put runners at the corners to open the sixth. Three players delivered RBI singles and Boyett added a sacrifice fly for all the offense reliever Sarah Gilbert, who reliever starter Michaela Huebotter with two on and two out in the bottom of the first, would need.

Gilbert (3-4) scattered seven hits over her 6 1/3 innings, with no walks or strikeout.

Kissell (2-12) pitched well for the Hounds, allowing just the four runs on 12 hits. ENMU’s lone run came in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out RBI single by Audrey Velasquez, extending her hitting streak to six games.

Sirag, who entered Friday with 198 career hits, became the fifth ENMU player to join the 200-hit club on a third-inning double and went 5-for-7 in the twin bill. She needs six hits to pass Kim Paschall for fourth place on ENMU’s all-time hit list.