Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
PORTALES — Saturday, the beat went on for Eastern New Mexico’s softball team.
Yes, the Greyhounds were facing the nation’s ninth-ranked team in Division II softball, but those losses don’t count any less in the standings. So when the Hounds lost both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader to West Texas A&M, 15-0 and 9-5, they suffered their 16th consecutive loss after a 10-7 start.
The twinbill
After recording no hits in Game 1 on Saturday afternoon, Eastern New Mexico made things interesting in Game 2 after a four-run bottom half of the sixth inning that tied the game up at 5.
West Texas A&M was able to scratch out four runs in the top of the seventh, before Eastern loaded up the bases in the bottom of that inning but was unable to get a run across.
Junior Samantha Brockman had an outstanding second game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Sophomore Jennifer McElroy and senior Lauren Likes each homered as part of that four-run sixth inning for the Greyhounds, while Likes tacked on another hit to finish the second game 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
West Texas A&M totaled eight home runs as a team, making it difficult for the Greyhounds to keep pace despite outhitting the Lady Buffs by an 11-9 total in the second game.
The Greyhounds put on their own display with the long ball in the bottom of the sixth, trailing 5-1 in Game 2, as Brockman led off the inning with a single and was quickly driven home thanks to McElroy’s second home run of the series.
Designated hitter Adriana Carabajal reached base by way of a single following a fly out for the Hounds, and scored thanks to a homer from Likes.
The Greyhounds continued to battle despite four Lady Buff runs in the top of the seventh, leading off the bottom half of the frame with singles from Elysa Rodriguez and Iliana Mendoza. Following a Brockman fly out to centerfield, McElroy loaded the bases with a single.
Eastern was unable to cut into the Lady Buff lead despite loading the bases with just one out, recording two straight outs in the next two at-bats to complete the 3-0 series victory for West Texas A&M.
The Greyhounds (10-23, 6-15 Lone Star Conference) will try to halt their losing streak when they make a trip across the state to Silver City for a three-game series against Western New Mexico. Friday’s series opener begins at noon.
