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Hounds drop opener

PORTALES - A promising start has faded a bit for Eastern New Mexico's softball team, as the Greyhounds dropped both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader against Lubbock Christian and now finds themselves on an 11-game losing skid.

Playing at home for the first time in 10 days, the Hounds endured 10-2 and 13-2 losses Tuesday, as Lubbock Christian walloped 25 total hits in the two games.

Things had been going so well for the Greyhounds, who tore off six straight victories before the losing streak began on March 8.

Tuesday, the Hounds got on the board early with two runs against the Lady Chaps in Game 1, but couldn't manage to slow down a potent Lubbock Christian offense the rest of the day.

Eastern Senior Emma Gary drove in the first of those two runs in the bottom half of the first inning with a dribbler in front of the catcher that scored freshman Iliana Mendoza.

Mendoza advanced by way of a single to begin her quality day at the plate, going 5-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI between the two contests. Her first-game single was followed with back-to-back walks from junior Samantha Brockman and sophomore Jennifer McElroy to load the bases for Gary.

Freshman Haleigh Behncke came through following the Gary RBI and drove in Brockman from third with an RBI single to the second baseman that couldn't be fielded in time, giving Behncke an infield hit.

The Lady Chaps took the lead in the top of the third inning with two runs and then enacted the run rule with seven runs in the top of the fourth to finish the game off.

In Game 2, Mendoza singled in the bottom of the first to score junior Precious Aguirre and answer a two-run top half of the first inning. Mendoza had an outstanding second game at the plate, going 3-for-3 with that RBI.

McElroy hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom half of the fourth inning, providing the only other run for the Hounds as the Lady Chaps continued to roll and once again ended the game after just five innings.

Eastern New Mexico and Lubbock Christian will finish up the second leg of their home-and-away series this Tuesday in Lubbock, with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.