PORTALES, NEW MEXICO – Eastern New Mexico held serve this weekend sweeping a three-game series from visiting Texas A&M-Kingsville in softball action, including a pair of games on Friday, 5-3 and 7-6.

In the opener, it was all Zias (12-28, 4-14) in the early going. They scored twice in the first inning and then put two more runs on the board in the third inning thanks to solo home runs by Katie Ramsey and Josette Aguirre. They added another run in the fourth inning on Aurelia Sandoval’s RBI triple to take a 5-0 lead.

The Javelinas (16-24, 4-14) closed the gap in the fifth inning. After two outs were recorded, Taylor McGill (China/Hardin-Jefferson HS) doubled and Amber Cherry (Splendora/Splendora HS) singled. Rose Stubbs (Garland/Garland HS) followed with her first career home run to make it a 5-3 game.

The Javelinas loaded the bases in the sixth inning with one out, but were unable to score and did not threaten in the seventh inning.

Amy Smith pitched a complete game for the Zias allowing seven hits, three runs and three walks while striking out five to earn the victory. Ramsey and Melanie Alderette each had two of the team’s nine hits.

Denise Arnold (Katy/Katy HS) was handed the loss for the Javelinas. Stubbs and McGill each had two hits in the game.

In the second game, the Zias committed nine errors and allowed six unearned runs, but still managed to take the victory. Smith picked up her third victory of the series by pitching a scoreless 1.2 innings of relief.

Once again, the Zias scored early in the game. They put across two runs in the first inning and three more in the second inning. Elizabeth Velasquez had a key two-run double and later scored in the second inning. She would finish the game 3-for-4 with three RBI’s and two runs scored.

The Javelinas scored a run in the first inning on an RBI double by Kodie Garner (Garland/Garland HS). They could not take advantage of Zia errors in the third and fourth innings.

In the fifth inning, the Javelinas scored three times as a result of only two hits and four ENMU errors. In addition, Jaeleen Castro (San Antonio/Roosevelt HS) was credited with an RBI when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Zias added a run in the fifth. Ramsay led off with a double and came around to score on Amanda Lale’s two-out single.

The Javelinas tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. An error started the inning and Garner drove in a run with a single and Ali Bodnar (Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley HS) tied it up when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Zias reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Smith led off with a triple and scored on Velasquez’s two-out single. Smith also had a double and scored earlier in the game.

The Javelinas were led by Garner’s two hits, two RBI’s and two runs scored. Arnold took the loss after pitching 5.0 innings in relief allowing five hits, three runs and one walk while striking out three.

The Javelinas are back in action on Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Incarnate Word at Hubert Field.
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