Zias Sweep Double-Header At College of the Southwest, 4-0 & 10-2

Box Score - Game #1, ENMU 4, CSW 0
Box Score - Game #2, ENMU 10, CSW 2

HOBBS, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University remained undefeated in its history against College of the Southwest, winning both games on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 4-0 and 10-2 at the CSW Softball Field. The Zias improved to 6-0 against CSW and get back to over .500 this season with a 4-3 overall record. The Mustangs, competing in their second year of softball, dropped their overall record to 1-6 this year.

In the first game, Rosemary Moreno (Sr., P, Midland, TX/Midland College) overpowered the CSW batters, giving up only two hits in the shutout victory. Moreno gave up the hits in the first and sixth inning and did not allow any runners to advance to second base throughout the game. She faced the minimum 21 batters, striking out seven and improved her record to 2-1 this season.

Eastern’s batters, who left two runners stranded in the first inning, began the third with a single and a stolen base by Kristina Goodman (Jr., CF, Artesia, NM/Artesia HS). With one out, Jessica Nocas (Sr., SS, Riverside, CA/Midland College) doubled-in Goodman for a 1-0 Zia lead. Elizabeth Whipkey (So., 1B, Orange, CA/Villa Park HS) knocked-in Nocas with a single to provide a 2-0 lead.

In the seventh inning the Zias added to their lead as Goodman and Danielle Flores (Jr., DP, Loving, NM/Loving HS) opened up the inning with back-to-back walks. After Goodman was thrown out at third base, Nocas recorded her second RBI of the game with a single that drove-in Flores from second base. With two outs, Christina Helland’s (So., LF, Albuquerque, NM/Rio Rancho HS) single allowed Nocas to score for the 4-0 Zia win.

ENMU got on the scoreboard in the first inning of the second game as Goodman opened up with a lead-off single and Nocas’ double put the Zias up 1-0. Nocas advanced to third base on a wild pitch and easily scored on single by Whipkey. Eastern added to its lead in the third inning as Zia pitcher Natasha Lindsey (Sr., Auburn, WA/Tusculum College) kept the Mustangs at bay. Nocas led off the inning with a double and scored on Whipkey’s single. With two outs and two runners on base, Nicole Bregler (So., SS, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) singled to load the bases. Brianna Darnell (Fr., 3B, Farmington, NM/Piedra Vista HS) hit a two-RBI single to score Tracy Jordan (Sr., 2B, Rosamond, CA/Desert HS) and Whipkey for a commanding 5-0 Zia lead.

In the fifth inning, CSW scored its only runs in the double-header. Brittany Regalado (So., P, Roswell, NM/South Plains College) came in relief of Lindsey and gave up a two-RBI double to Tanya Ritter. Lindsey came back in to pitch and was able to squash the attempted Mustang rally with a strikeout and a pop up to Bregler at shortstop. The Mustangs stranded two runners in scoring position.

The ENMU offense wasn’t done, as they scored five more runs in the seventh inning. With one out, McClasky and Bregler got on base with back-to-back walks. Darnell singled to load the bases and Goodman earned an RBI and reached base on a fielder’s choice. With the bases still loaded and two outs, Nocas hit a grand slam to close out the scoring.

Moreno’s strong early-season pitching performance includes a 1.33 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 21 innings. She is holding down the opposing batters to only a .184 hitting average. With the win in the second game, Lindsey evened up her record at 2-2. Nocas has played and started in all seven games to record a .520 batting average, including two homeruns and 11 RBIs for a .966 slugging percentage. Bregler, a midfielder for the Zia soccer team, is batting .429 in her first year playing softball at ENMU.

Eastern will travel to Amarillo, Texas this weekend for the three-day West Texas A&M University-Holiday Inn Invitational. Tourney play begins on Friday, Feb. 10, with a morning game against Colorado State University-Pueblo and an afternoon game against Adams State College. On Saturday, Feb. 11, the Zias are scheduled to play Regis University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University. ENMU will finish tournament play on Sunday, Feb. 12 with games against Fort Hays State University and New Mexico Highlands University.