Zias Split Double-Header at Panhandle State
ENMU Wins Second Game 9-6 in eight Innings

Box Score - Game 1 - OPSU 7, ENMU 5
Box Score - Game 2 - ENMU 9, OPSU 6 (8 innings)

PORTALES, N.M. — The Eastern New Mexico University Zias overcame 13 errors to split a double-header at Oklahoma Panhandle State University on Wed., Mar. 9, losing the first game, 7-5, and winning the night cap in eight innings, 9-6, at the OPSU Softball Field. ENMU committed seven errors in the first game and six in the second. The Zias concluded the double- header with a 13-10 overall record, while OPSU ended the day with a 6-13 mark.

In the first game, Eastern trailed 1-0 after two innings, but led off the top of the third with a double by Christina Helland (Fr., LF, Albuquerque, NM/Rio Rancho HS). With one out, Tori Picazo (So., DH, McKinney, TX/Western Texas College) belted her team-leading fourth home run of the season to give the Zias a 2-1 lead.

The Lady Aggies tied the score at two apiece in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by right fielder Krystal Comeaux. The Zias recaptured the lead, 3-2, when Adriana Reyes (Jr., 3B, El Paso, TX/El Paso CC) scored on a single by Tina Whitt (Jr., C, Riverside, CA/Midland College) in the top of the fifth inning .

Zia hurler Rosemary Moreno (Jr., RHP, Midland, TX/Midland College) gave up five runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. The decisive hit came off the bat of Kendra Glendon, who hit a bases loaded triple with two outs, giving the Lady Aggies a commanding 7-3 lead.

Eastern attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, as a single by Jessica Nocas (Jr., SS, Riverside, CA/Midland College) scored Elizabeth Whipkey (Fr., 1B, Orange, CA/Villa Park HS) and Whitt to make it 7-5. With the tying run at the plate, OPSU hurler Kindell Moon got the final out on a fly ball to left field, as she recorded the victory.

ENMU’s defense did not help Moreno, as it committed seven errors in the game. Moreno fell to 3-3 on the season.

The Zias opened the second game with four runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Whitt drove in Helland with a fielder’s choice for a 1-0 lead. A single by Nocas scored Reyes, then Adina Taul (Jr., CF, Placentia, CA/Midland College) added a run with an RBI single. A ground out by Krystal Echavarria (Fr., 1B, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad HS) scored another run, but the Zias left two runners on base to end the inning with a 4-0 lead.

The Lady Aggies got two runs back in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of three consecutive errors by Echavarria at first base. Kendra Gladson’s leadoff single was the only hit for OPSU during the inning.

Helland and Reyes started the top of the third with back-to-back singles for ENMU. Picazo’s grounder to first base drove in Helland to increase the Zias’ lead to 5-2.

In the second, third and fourth innings, Zia pitcher Amanda Nightingale (Jr., RHP, Mesquite, TX/North Central Texas College) kept the Lady Aggies scoreless. In the bottom of the fifth inning, however, Panhandle State scored two runs on a single by Pam Moore, cutting Eastern’s lead to 5-4.

ENMU added a run in the top of the sixth inning on an double by Picazo, increasing the lead to two runs. OPSU evened the score at 6-6 by scoring two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nightingale forced a ground out by Amy Gillman for the third out of the inning, as the Lady Aggies stranded two runners on base.

The six runs on the scoreboard were not indicative of Nightingale’s pitching performance, as she gave up only one earned run in 6 2/3 innings. With the score still tied when she left the game, Nightingale received no decision, with her record staying 4-2 on the season.

When the game went into an extra inning, the teams used the international tie-breaker, in which the last batter in the previous inning is placed on second base before the new inning starts. Whipkey was Eastern’s designated runner in the eighth inning. After Courtney McClasky (Jr., C, Keller, TX/Morningside College) flew out to center field, Helland provided a sacrifice bunt to advance Whipkey to third. A single by Whitt brought Whipkey home and put the Zias in front for good, 7-6. ENMU added two runs to take a 9-6 lead when Nocas reached base on an error.

Natasha Lindsey (Jr., RHP, Auburn, WA/Tusculum College), the LSC South Pitcher of the Week after her four-hit win over College of the Southwest on Mar. 5, entered the second game at OPSU with two outs in the seventh inning. She ended the seventh on a ground out, then retired the Lady Aggies in order in the eighth, including one strikeout, to improve her record to 2-1.

Eastern will begin LSC South Division play against defending NCAA Division II national champion Angelo State University with double-headers on Friday, Mar. 11 and Saturday, Mar. 12 in San Angelo, Texas. The Zias’ next home game, originally set for Mar. 14 against Northwestern Oklahoma State University, has been canceled and will likely not be rescheduled.