Kubik Goes 7 for 8 with Grand Slam, Two-Run Homer and 10 RBIs in Sweep of WTAMU, 10-7 and 11-5
Whitt Hits Walk-Off Homer in Eighth Inning to Win First Game

Box Score - Game 3 - ENMU 10, WTAMU 7 (8 innings)
Box Score - Game 4 - ENMU 11, WTAMU 5

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University junior right fielder Kelsey Kubik (Tucson, AZ/Pima College) blasted a grand slam in the sixth inning and Tina Whitt (Sr., 3B/C, Riverside, CA/Midland College) hit a three-run walk-off homer in the eighth, as ENMU rallied from a 7-1 deficit to defeat West Texas A&M University, 10-7, in the first game of a Lone Star Conference double-header at the Zia Softball Field on Saturday, Mar. 25. Kubik was 4 for 4 with a home run in the second game to help ENMU complete the sweep with an 11-5 victory.

The Zias, who improved to 24-12 overall, 6-2 in the LSC South, won all four games during the weekend series. WTAMU fell to 10-30 on the season, 1-11 in the LSC South.

Kubik was 7 for 8 on the day. In the opener, her grand slam to left field cut WTAMU’s lead to 7-5, while her two-RBI double in the seventh inning tied the game. She also hit a single. In the second game, she smacked a two-run homer in the second inning, then added three more singles. Kubik recorded 10 RBIs during the double-header. She completed the series with 11 hits in 13 at bats, as she hit .846, with 15 RBIs, six runs scored, four home runs and a double.

WTAMU tallied three runs in the first inning and eventually built a 6-0 lead in Game #1. After the Zias scored a run in the fifth, the Lady Buffs countered with a homer by Marci Shepherd during the next half-inning to extend the lead to 7-1.

Kubik’s grand slam took place with no outs in the sixth. Elizabeth Whipkey (So., 1B, Orange, CA/Villa Park HS) was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then Whitt singled and Tracy Jordan (Sr., 2B, Rosamond, CA/Desert HS) hit into a fielder’s choice. WTAMU second baseman Lacey Eads dropped the throw as Whitt reached second. Kubik followed with her fifth homer of the year.

In the seventh inning, an error by shortstop Katherine Alcala of WTAMU left runners at first and second with one out. Jordan fouled out behind the plate, then Kubik doubled down the left field line to tie the game.

Following the game-tying double, Eastern threatened to win before the seventh inning ended. Danielle Flores (Jr., LF, Loving, NM/Loving HS) hit an infield single and Courtney McClasky (Sr., C, Keller, TX/Morningside College) reached on an error by Alcala, as Kubik moved to third base. West Texas A&M escaped the inning when McClasky was forced out at second on a grounder.

ENMU pitcher Natasha Lindsey (Sr., RHP, Tucson, AZ/Pima College), who threw the final 6 1/3 innings for the Zias, hit Marci Shepherd to start the eighth. Even so, Lindsey kept the game tied, as Eastern’s defense recorded three consecutive ground outs.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Jessica Nocas (Sr., SS, Riverside, CA/Midland College) singled to center field. She advanced to second when Whipkey reached first on another error by Alcala. Whitt homered over the left field fence to complete Eastern’s comeback.

Lindsey improved to 7-4 with the win. Kourtney Hodgins fell to 1-5 with the loss for the Lady Buffs.

Eastern trailed 1-0 after one-half inning in the second game, but equalized in the bottom of the first and moved in front for good with three runs in the second. Kubik’s fourth homer of the series provided two of the runs in the second inning, while Flores tripled and scored the other run on a single by Kristina Goodman (Jr., CF, Artesia, NM/Vernon College).

The Zias tacked on three more runs in the third. Jordan and Flores each connected for an RBI single. Jordan moved to third on the single by Flores, then scored on a fielder’s choice to increase ENMU’s lead to 7-1.

West Texas A&M plated three runs in the fourth inning. Shepherd opened the stanza with a solo home run, while Jenny Matulich added a two-run homer. Shepherd and Matulich were both 2 for 3 during the game.

Kubik hit an RBI single in the fifth inning to give ENMU an 8-4 lead. Meagan Stebbins of WTAMU answered by driving in a run with a single through the infield in the top of the sixth. ENMU pulled away with three runs in the bottom of the inning, including a home run by Nocas, plus an RBI double by Jordan and an RBI single by Kubik.

Rosemary Moreno (Sr., RHP, Midland, TX/Midland HS) recorded the complete-game victory for ENMU, as he improved to 11-5 on the season. Moreno did not register a strikeout, but also walked just one player. Jennifer Yepez fell to 1-11 for WTAMU.

The Zias will return to action on Tuesday, Mar. 28 at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo. First pitch in the double-header is set for 1 p.m. MST.