ENMU Loses Two One-Run Games at Texas Woman’s University

DENTON, TX – Teresa Flores singled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and later scored on a single by Jennifer Collins, as Texas Woman’s University slipped past visiting Eastern New Mexico University, 6-5, in the second game of a Lone Star Conference double-header, Mar. 28 at Pioneer Field. TWU also won the first game, 2-1, as the Pioneers swept the double-header and improved to 24-11-1 overall and 5-1 in the LSC South. ENMU dropped to 21-18 overall, 1-5 in the LSC South.

The seventh-inning single by Flores followed a line drive out by Sascha Taylor and a fly out by Nikki Boudreaux to open the final stanza with the game tied, 5-5. Flores, who went 2 for 4 during the second game, registered a base hit to left field to start the game-winning rally. She advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on Collins’ single to right center.

ENMU held an early lead in the second game, as the Zias recorded one run in the first inning and three runs in the third. Kim Barajas (So., DP/3B, Alamogordo,NM/Alamogordo HS) opened the scoring by waling with two outs in the first, then scoring on a single by Dawn Murray (Sr., 3B/1B, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad HS), plus an error by the center fielder. Murray was thrown out at third on the play after Barajas crossed the plate.

Barajas drove in two of Eastern’s runs in the third with a bases-loaded single to right center. Misty Torrez (Jr., SS, Flagstaff, AZ/Glendale CC) and Nikki Gay (Fr., CF, Schertz, TX/Samuel Clemens HS) scored on the play. Jessica Cook (Sr., San Antonio, TX/Lon Morris JC), who reached base on an error prior to Barajas’ single, crossed the plate when Murray hit a sacrifice fly to center.

The Pioneers tallied one run in the bottom of the third inning, then plated four runs in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead. In the third stanza, Sarah White went to first on an error and later scored on an illegal pitch. In the fourth, Eastern committed two errors, helping TWU take advantage of a single by Megan Helms, plus two walks, a hit batsman and a squeeze bunt.

Eastern tied the game in the sixth inning. Katie McDermott (Fr., 3B/C, Albuquerque, NM/Rio Rancho HS) pounded her second double of the game withe one out. Elizabeth Navarro (Jr., C, San Antonio, TX/Lon Morris JC) pinch-ran for McDermott, and moved to third on a fly ball by Torrez. Navarro scored on a single by Gay.

Devin Blew threw the first 5 2/3 innings for TWU and allowed seven hits and five runs (3 earned). Amanda Chambliss pitched the final out of the sixth inning, then retired the Zias in order in the seventh, to pick up her second win of the day. She improved to 10-3 on the season.

Maegan Rhoten (Jr., RHP/LF, Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X HS) of ENMU struck out six batters. She was credited with allowing all six runs, but only three were earned. She fell to 8-7.

In the first game, Chambliss allowed six hits and ENMU’s Lauren King (Jr., RHP, La Mirada, CA/La Serna HS) gave up nine hits, but both pitchers worked out of jams to keep scoring at a minimum. ENMU left six runners on base, while the Pioneers stranded eight.

Gay singled and stole second to open the game. She reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Cook, but was left on base following back-to-back ground outs. In the bottom of the first, Taylor also singled, stole second and moved to third on a bunt. She scored on a passed ball.

The next run was scored by the Pioneers in the bottom of the third. Boudreaux singled to center as the leadoff batter. She went on to cross the plate on a passed ball with one out.

Barajas cut the deficit in half with a solo homer to right field to start the fourth inning. Three consecutive outs followed, as TWU held its 2-1 lead. The Zias had runners at first and third with one out in the fifth, but failed to score. ENMU also left two runners on base in the sixth. In between, TWU opened the fifth with back-to-back singles, but came up scoreless.

Chambliss and King each struck out just two batters. The homer by Barajas, however, was the only extra-base hit for either team. An error by TWU catcher Stefani Easter as she attempted to throw out Gay on a stolen base attempt in the third inning, was the only error of the game.

Gay was 2 for 4 with two stolen base for Eastern in the opener, while four Zias registered one hit apiece. In the second game, Gay went 1 for 2, stole a base and was hit by two pitches. Murray and McDermott each went 2 for 3, while Torrez was 1 for 2.

Texas Woman’s received two hits from Taylor, Collins and Helms in the first game, as Taylor went 2 for 4, Collins was 2 for 2 and Helms provided a 2 for 3 performance. The second game featured Flores’ 2 for 4 effort, plus two hits for Helms in three at bats. The Pioneers stole six bases in the nightcap.

The Zias will take on TWU in another LSC South double-header on Saturday, Mar. 29. Game time is set for 12 p.m. (MST).