PORTALES, N.M. – Five runs in the first two innings of game two on Friday at the Greyhound Softball Field, helped the No. 23 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team earn a split with a 9-1 win in game two at the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds, who took game one by a score of 8-5.
 
A&M-Commerce snapped its eight-game winning streak in game one and ends the day with a record of 15-5 and 1-1 in the Lone Star Conference standings. The Greyhounds are 8-10 overall and went 1-1 in their first two LSC games.
 
"Eastern New Mexico played very well in game one. We had our moments, but it just wasn't enough," said interim head coach Gay McNutt. "Our team played the way we expect to play in game two. Alyssa (LeBlanc) threw well, our offense came out strong and didn't let up, and it was great to see Chanlee (Oakes) come in and close for us."
 
GAME 1: Eastern New Mexico 8, No. 23 A&M-Commerce 5
With two outs in the first, Ayanna Williams (Round Rock – Cedar Ridge) doubled to right field. She came around to score the small-ball way. Williams stole third and scored on the play due to a fielding error.
 
The Greyhounds drew a two-out walk in the first and put a crooked number on the board thanks to a two-run home run by Azalea Martinez. In the second, Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) reached all the way to second on an error and scored on an RBI single by Alina Jasso (San Benito).
 
Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) regained the lead for the Lions with a single that scored Jasso. The Lions had three stolen bases in the top of the second. Mackenzie Shaw drove in Brook Leger in the bottom of the second to tie the game with one out. With two on and two out, Sierra Wooley drove in Shaw on an RBI base hit. Lisette Urquidez cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left center.
 
The Lions drew a walk each in the third and fourth innings, but both times the runner was tagged out at second. The Greyhounds added to their lead in the fourth with an RBI single to left center by Maite Bustillos.
 
Modrego cut into the lead with her fifth home run on the season in the sixth. It was a two-run home run. Sabrina Anguiano (Riverside, Calif.) scored on the home run as well. A&M-Commerce went down in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
 
Williams went 2 for 4 in the game, while Schaefer, Williams, Modrego, and Jasso each stole a base. Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) was handed her second loss of the season, giving up seven earned runs in six innings. She falls to 7-2 on the season, allowing eight hits and three walks, while striking out five.
 
Urquidez started the game for the Greyhounds, but went just two innings and allowed three runs, none were earned. Brook Leger pitched the final five innings and improves to 7-3 on the season. She allowed two earned runs, three hits, two walks, and collected eight strikeouts. At the plate, Urquides went 2 for 2 with three RBIs.
 
GAME 2: No. 23 A&M-Commerce 9, Eastern New Mexico 1
The Lions put together a two-out rally in the first to score their first run of game two. Williams drew a walk and came around to score on a double to right center by Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy).
 
A&M-Commerce added to its lead in the second with two home runs. Jasso hit her first career home run with the bases empty, while Williams homered to straight center field that scored Leo Terry (Emory – Rains) and Schaefer. Both teams went scoreless in the third. Schaefer added another run for the Lions in the fourth on an RBI single that scored Jasso. Urquidez hit a solo home run in the fourth for the lone run for Eastern New Mexico in game two.
 
A walk drawn by Terry put two on base with two outs. Elizabeth Guerrero (San Antonio – International School of the Americas) came in to pinch run for Schaefer. Williams hit a double play, but on the rundown as the Greyhounds were chasing Terry, Guerrero scored from second. Williams had another long rundown after a single in the sixth, this time, Schaefer scored from second.
 
Avery Zeigler (Southlake – Carroll) pinch hit for Modrego in the seventh and she plated LeBlanc with a double to right center. LeBlanc scored all the way from first.
 
LeBlanc has won her last three starts, improving to 4-2 on the season. She tossed six innings of one-run ball and struck out 11. She allowed four hits and two walks. Chanlee Oakes (Emory – Rains) came in to pitch the seventh, giving up one hit and picking up a strikeout. Offensively, LeBlanc, Williams, and Jasso had two hits and two RBIs each. Guerrero and Jasso had a stolen base each.
 
Taylor Harrison took the loss for the Greyhounds, giving up five earned runs in 1.2 innings. Eastern New Mexico used two more pitchers in the game, both gave up two runs each.
 
UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce crosses the state border back into Texas to take on No. 4 West Texas A&M on Sunday afternoon. First pitch for game one is scheduled for noon.