Saturday, March 05, 2016

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS — Kiana Zerr belted two homeruns, drove in seven runs, and earned a victory in the circle, to lead the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (9-15; LSC 2-6) to split a Lone Star Conference doubleheader at Angelo State (18-4; LSC 7-1). A late surge lifted the Hounds to a 12-9 victory in the opener, but the Rambelles rallied to claim the nightcap, 6-4, at Mayer Field.

The victory marked the second road win for the Hounds in the series. It also snapped a six-game skid in the series against Angelo State, with the last being an 8-1 decision in San Angelo, on March 16, 2013. Eastern's 12 runs in the opener were the most the Hounds have scored in any game against the Rambelles since the series began in the 2002 season. Eastern's win snapped a 16-game home win streak for ASU, who owned an 8-0 record this season at Mayer Field entering today's doubleheader.

Kyra Sirag batted five-for-eight over the doubleheader and drove in three runs. In three of the four games this weekend, Eastern held a lead in the fourth inning or later.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will return to action on Friday, to host a LSC series against Texas A&M-Commerce. The first game of the opening doubleheader will start at noon.

Game 1
In the first inning of the opener, Angelo State capitalized on an error, a double and RBI single to seize a 2-0 lead. Audrey Velasquez had two of Eastern's four hits over the first five innings, but Rambelle starter Kenedy Urbany did not allow any other base runners over that span. Zerr kept the Hounds in the game and allowed no runs on just one hit from the second through the sixth frame.

With one out in the ENMU sixth inning, Susannah Chandler blasted her fourth homer of the season to pull with 2-1. One batter later, the tying run reached when shortstop Cierra Sheppard made an errant throw on a Morgan Green ground ball. With two outs, Kyra Sirag drove in the tying run with a triple to right center, before scoring the go-ahead run on a single from Natasha Kissell. After an infield hit from Mariah Rodriguez, Zerr crushed a three-run blast to left, for a 6-2 lead. The Hounds send another nine batters to the plate in the seventh and capped a six-run rally with a grand slam from Zerr for a 12-2 advantage,

With a perfect conference record and 16-game home win streak on the lone, the Rambelles sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. A RBI single from Lanie Robinson pulled the Rambelles within 12-8, with the tying run at the plate, Relief pitcher Katie Ripple induced a ground ball off the bat of Madison Greenwell to seal the win.

Sirag, Kissell, and Rodriguez each had two hits, as the Hounds enjoyed a 12-8 lead in base hits. Zerr went 6.1 innings to pick up the victory. Urbany allowed just one earned run over six innings and suffered her first loss since a February 13, setback against Lubbock Christian.

Game 2
ENMU continued the offensive momentum in the nightcap. A first-inning RBI double from Chandler was followed by a two-out RBI single from Sirag for a 2-0 lead. The Rambelles capitalized on a leadoff walk and tied the contest in the bottom of the inning.

Morgan Hill homered in the ASU second inning for a 3-2 lead, but the Hounds responded in the fourth inning. With two outs, Erikka Burke and Chandler had back-to-back singles, before scoring on Morgan Green's double for a 4-3 lead.

Urbany pulled the Rambelles even with a fifth-inning homer, while sixth-inning singles from Bailey Wallace and Alexis Evans staked them to a 6-4 advantage. Urbany tried to score on Evans' hit, but was caught in a run down to end the inning.

Sirag and Rodriguez led off the Greyhound seventh to put the game-tying runs on base, but Hill managed to retire the next two batters. After an intentional walk to Audrey Velasquez, Hill escaped a bases loaded jam.

For the second straight game, ENMU held a 12-8 edge in total hits. Chandler hit three-for-three with a double, while Sirag hit three-for-four with a stolen base. Kissell tossed a complete game for the Hounds, while Hill (2-0) earned the victory for ASU.

Notes
The previous pitcher to earn a road win for Eastern was Katie Ramsay (4.1 IP, 1 ER, 6H, 2K, 1 BB)