Tuesday, April 12, 2016
GOODWELL, OKLA. —
Susannah Chandler registered a three-for-four performance with two doubles, five runs batted in, and a stolen base in the opening game of Tuesday's doubleheader at Oklahoma Panhandle State (18-25). Her performance rallied the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (12-36) from a four-run deficit to a 10-8 win. The Aggies pulled away late to claim the nightcap by a 13-5 score, at Aggie Field.
With the split, Eastern has won the head-to-head series against OPSU, 3-2.
Erikka Burke batted .429 over the doubleheader and has safely reached base in five straight games.
The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will host Texas Woman's in a four-game Lone Star Conference series this weekend. Friday's doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m. MT.
Game 1
The Aggies seized a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, but the Hounds rallied in the top of the third inning.
Kailee Ramirez,
Audrey Velasquez, and
Erikka Burke all faced full counts, but drew walks to lead off the inning. One out later,
Susannah Chandler drove a bases-clearing double to left-centerfield, to give ENMU a 3-2 advantage.
Oklahoma Panhandle exploded for five runs in the third inning to seize a 7-3 lead, but ENMU rallied yet again. The Hounds sent seven batters to the plate in the fourth frame, and used RBI singles from Ramirez and Chandler, sandwiched around a two-run double from
Kyra Sirag, to pull even.
Greyhound starter
Kiana Zerr retired all nine Aggie batters in the fourth-through-sixth innings, while Eastern's bats stayed hot. Burke led off the ENMU sixth inning with an infield single, while Sirag followed with a walk. After a wild pitch moved both into scoring position, the Hounds took full advantage of the situation. Chandler and
Morgan Green both hit ground balls to give Eastern a 10-7 lead. Oklahoma Panhandle managed to load the bases with no outs in the seventh inning, but Zerr retired the next three, with only a sacrifice fly allowed.
ENMU held a 13-10 edge in total hits and moved to 10-7 on the season hen holding that advantage. Zerr earned her fourth win of the season, and struck out four. OPSU's Samantha Arledge fanned 11 batters, but surrendered 10 earned runs, just three days after tossing a two-hit shutout against Lubbock Christian. Velasquez, Burke,
Mariah Rodriguez, and Ramirez, each added two hits for ENMU.
Game 2
Darcie Wilson paced OPSU in the nightcap with a three for four performance and seven RBIs. The Greyhounds pulled even after deficits of 3-0 and 5-3, but the Aggies exploded for eight runs in their final two at bats to seal the win in five innings.
Katie Ripple and Ramirez both doubled for the Hounds, while Velasquez drove in a pair of runs. Criselda Luna scattered five hits to earn the win for OPSU.
