Lady Rams notch sweep of Ruidoso after Friday loss

RUIDOSO — Coming off a tough loss the night before, the Portales High softball team bounced back with a doubleheader sweep of Ruidoso on Saturday, rallying late to win the opener 10-6 before blowing out the Lady Warriors 26-10 in Game 2.

Lady Rams coach Amanda Bonner felt a lot better after Saturday’s games.

“It was a long afternoon,” she said. “But it was good to get the wins.”

The teams were going along routinely in the opener. Leading 2-1, Ruidoso (4-6) scored twice in the bottom of the fifth before PHS (4-4) came back with one in the sixth before erupting for eight more in the seventh.

Junior Cyria Aguirre went 4-for-5 to lead the Lady Rams’ 15-hit attack. Junior Kenzee Rowland and senior Amanda Ornelas were both 2-for-4 and combined to score three runs and drive in three, while junior Emma Long contributed a two-run double to the seventh-inning rally.

In the second game, Portales broke open a 2-1 contest with an 11-run third, then added 11 more in the top of the seventh. The Lady Rams compiled 24 hits in the matchup.

Rowland led the way with 5-for-5, including a double, a seventh-inning home run and five RBIs, while senior Adrianna Garcia had three hits and five RBIs, hitting a three-run homer in the third and a solo shot in the sixth. Freshman Angel Ornelas and sophomore Bailey Hinderliter each drove in three runs.

Junior Abby Marquez threw complete games in both ends of the twin bill.

Portales returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Clovis in a 7 p.m. matchup.

Clovis 19, Portales 9 (Friday) — At Clovis, runs were flowing like tapwater for the first three innings, with the Lady Wildcats (3-10) getting six in the first and seven in the third for a 16-8 lead. Clovis ended the game on the 10-run rule with a single tally in the bottom of the sixth.

Senior Chastity Hardy went 4-for-4 for the Lady Cats with a double, 2 RBIs and four runs scored. Senior Marina Sena knocked in five runs and scored three, going 3-for-5 with a triple, while senior Amya Robles finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs.

Senior Cashlin Fraze led Portales’ 16-hit attack with 4-for-4, while Aguirre and Marquez each had three hits and Angel Ornelas finished 2-for-4.