Portales, NM – Friday afternoon, the Western New Mexico University softball took on in-state rival Eastern New Mexico University, falling in both games. Eliza Ortiz (Santa Clara, N.M/Cobre HS) had a great day, going 5-for-9 at the plate. Greyhounds get the series win, defeating the Mustangs 6-1 and 8-7.

Game One

After getting the early lead in the 2nd inning, the Greyhounds went on to score six runs. ENMU made most of their damage in the 6th inning, putting up four runs.

Vanessa Hunt (Phoenix, AZ/Mountain Pointe High School) got the start in game one, pitching a complete game. Hunt give up 6 R (4 ER), 13 H, 1 K, and 4 BB in 6.0 innings of work. In the 6th inning was Hunt got hit around with 5 hits given up, including a three-run homerun by Aylene Lucero.

The Mustangs got their first run of the game in the 2nd inning with Samantha Corral (El Paso, TX/Socorro HS) double in the right-center gap bringing in Bryana Munoz (Dexter, NM/Dexter High School). WNMU had other opportunities to score runs, getting base runners on, with 8 hits in the ballgame. 

Grisdey Paredes-Alvarez (Tucson, AZ/Sunnyside HS) led the mob,goinf 2-for-4 at the plate. Only two Mustangs in the starting lineup didn't record a hit.

The Greyhounds scored two in 2nd inning to take the lead. Tianna Boone hit a sacrifice fly to bring in a run and Mikenzey Patterson had a 3-3 performance, in which one of those hits brought in a run. 

In the 6th inning, ENMU blasted a three-run homerun by Lucero. The Greyhounds weren't done as they got runners on immediately after, to allow Bella Mendoza to deliver on an RBI single, putting Eastern up 6-1.

Maite Bustillos got the game one start for the Greyhounds, pitching 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 8, 1 K, 1 BB, and 2 HPB.

Mustangs to Highlight:
G. Paredes-Alvarez: 2-4
S. Corral: 1-2, 1 RBI
B. Munoz: 1-4, R

Game Two

Bryana Munoz (Dexter, NM/Dexter High School) stepped in the circle, getting the start for the Mustangs in game two. Munoz would go the distance pitching a complete. Her final stat line goes 6.0 IP, 8 R (6 ER), 8 H, 1 K, and 8 BB. 

Eliza Ortiz (Santa Clara, N.M/Cobre HS) would have a great game, getting 4 hits and continuously putting pressure on ENMU.

WNMU took the early lead in the 1st inning with a Marina Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View HS) sacrifice fly. ENMU didn't get fazed, scoring four of their own in 1st inning. Lucero continued her hot bat, hitting a double to bring in a run and would later score on a WNMU throwing an error. Alanna Larkins would eventually single, bringing in two Greyhound runners, putting ENMU up, 4-1.

The Mustangs continued to fight, scoring a run in the 2nd inning off a Paredes-Alvarez single. In the 3rd inning, Katie Knezevich (Goodyear, AZ/Verrado High School ) forced ENMU to make a play, as it would go WNMU's way, scoring another run. 

Eastern would answer right back with a run in the 2nd inning, as Lucero scored again off a Mustang error. In the 3rd inning, Patterson singled, bringing in the 6th Greyhound runner, putting the pressure on WNMU to score more runs.

The Mustangs did just that in the 4th inning, starting with a Corral single, bringing in the 4th Mustang run. A couple of batters later, Munoz grounded out to the third base, but a run would score. 

In the 5th inning, ENMU put the game just out of reach with Azaela Martinez singling in a run and Larkins playing small ball by dropping a bunt down to score a run. The Greyhounds would lead 8-5 going into the 6th inning.

WNMU had a chance to tie the game in the 6th inning. Cecilia Jurado (El Monte, California/South El Monte High school) smacked a single to bring in a run. The next batter, Eliza Ortiz (Santa Clara, N.M/Cobre HS) had a base hit to bring in Jurado. Ortiz, the tying run, would be stranded, limiting anymore oppurtunities for WNMU.

ENMU's Brook Leger is now (2-6) on the season, going 7.0 IP, 7 R (4 ER), 9 H, 4 K, 2 BB, and 2 HPB.

Mustangs to Highlight:
E. Ortiz: 4-5, 2 R, 1 RBI
G. Paredes-Alvarez: 1-3, 1 RBI
S. Corral: 1-3, 1 RBI
B. Munoz: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
C. Jurado: 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI

WNMU will head to Amarillo, TX, playing their last road games against West Texas A&M starting at 12pm and 2pm MT.

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 Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (Twitter & Instagram).