Saturday, March 21, 2009

PORTALES, N.M. — Junior pitcher Kristen Cruickshank (Glendale, Ariz./Deer Valley HS) drew a two-out intentional walk in the top of the third inning and Rebecca Quiñones (Jr., 2B, Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert HS) followed with a three-run homer to centerfield, giving the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (17-16; LSC South 2-10) a 5-0 lead, but Tarleton State rallied to defeat ENMU by a 15-10 score in Lone Star Conference South Division action, Saturday afternoon at Zia Field.

Jessica Pacheco (Sr., LF, Avondale, Ariz./Mesa CC/Millennium HS) and Amanda Terry (So., DH, Portales, N.M./Portales HS) led off the third frame with infield singles and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Melissa Williams (Fr., SS, Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS). One batter later, Laura Thompson (Towcester, Northants, England/Vernon College) drove a two-run single into centerfield to stake the Zias to a 2-0 lead. After Cruickshank was issued an intentional pass, Quiñones crushed a 2-1 offering from TSU starter, Lauren Zearfoss over the centerfield fence, extending the ENMU lead to 5-0.

Britnee Rice got the TexAnns on the board with a leadoff homer in the top of the fourth and TSU scored three runs on three hits, sending nine batters to the plate. Cruickshank retired all six batters over the fifth and sixth inning to maintain the 5-3 lead, but Tarleton tied the game on Tamra Bradley’s two-run single in the top of the seventh and took the lead one batter later on a homer from Rice. Tarleton plated 12 runs in the inning, sending 18 batters to the plate.

Eastern rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh, trimming their deficit to 15-10, but could come no closer as the TexAnns held on for the win.

Terry batted two-for-three and scored a run for the Zias, while Thompson went two-for-four with two runs and two runs batted in. Rice led Tarleton with a three-for-five performance, three runs, six RBIs and three homers.

The Eastern New Mexico University softball team will open play in Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament in Durant, Okla., next Friday, against East Central at 10 a.m. MST.