ENMU garners first softball win over LCU

Eastern New Mexico University’s softball team got a big monkey off its collective back on Tuesday.

No, make that more like a gorilla.

Senior designated player Taighen Whitzel’s one-out, walkoff home run in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Greyhounds to a 4-3 Lone Star Conference win over Lubbock Christian at Greyhound Softball Field, ENMU’s first win all-time against the Lady Chaps. LCU came into the series 42-0 against the Hounds dating to their first meeting in 2010.

On Wednesday, the Hounds were primed to make it two in a row in the opener of a doubleheader, leading 4-0 and then 4-2 going into the seventh. LCU, though, erupted for eight runs and posted a 10-7 victory before completing the twin bill sweep with an 11-2 decision in the nightcap.

In Tuesday’s win, Whitzel sent her sixth home run of the season over the barrier in left-center with one out in the home eighth after senior right fielder Tiarra Delrosario’s two-out RBI hit tied the game in the top of the seventh.

Junior right-hander Emma Southerland (6-1) went the distance in the circle for ENMU, allowing six hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Senior right-hander Maxine Valdez (2-4) took the loss despite allowing only three hits and striking out 10.

ENMU took a 1-0 lead in the first on a run-scoring groundout by junior catcher Samantha Gutierrez. LCU then got back-to-back RBI singles with two out in the third from shortstop Skylar Herrera and Delrosario, but the Hounds went back in front with two in the bottom half on a fielder’s choice grounder by senior Aylene Lucero and an error.

The only other hits off Valdez, who tossed a no-hitter in a 2-1 loss at Texas Woman’s in her previous start, were a two-out double in the second by senior shortstop Valeria Contreras and a single by senior first baseman Alondra Vasquez in the third.

Lubbock Christian 10-11, ENMU 7-2 (Wednesday) – Contreras, who had one homer and 18 RBIs in one-plus seasons in the program, hit a pair of three-run shots in Game 1, but it wasn’t enough.

Her first home run in the fourth inning gave ENMU (14-6, 7-5 LSC) a 4-0 advantage. The Lady Chaps (8-8, 7-5) made it 4-2 on a run-scoring single by shortstop Skylar Herrera in the fifth and a solo home run to center by Delrosario in the sixth.

They opened the seventh with three straight singles against ENMU sophomore right-hander Marissa Rodriguez (4-3), who was working on a three-hitter going into the frame. By the time it was over, they had sent 12 batters to the plate and collected seven knocks.

Contreras added her second three-run shot off LCU junior right-hander Teoni Lamb (3-2) with two out in the bottom half.

In Game 2, LCU chased freshman right-hander Jordan Rivera (4-2) with a six-run second, capped by Delrosario’s two-out, three-run homer to left. The Lady Chaps got five runs in the fourth on a grand slam by first baseman Ally Oyanguren and a solo shot right behind her by third baseman Baylea Myers.

Senior Taryn Westbrook (1-1) worked four-plus innings for the win, giving up ENMU’s runs on solo homers by Vasquez in the third and freshman pinch-hitter Skylar Hardin leading off the fifth.

ENMU has a three-game LSC series on tap this weekend against Cameron at Lawton, Okla. The teams were scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game today.