PORTALES, N.M. – The No. 6 Angelo State softball team defeated Eastern New Mexico 6-3 in game one and 6-4 in game two in a Lone Star Conference doubleheader on Friday at Zia Field.

The Rambelles moved to 17-1 on the season and 4-0 in the LSC with the two wins. ENMU falls to 12-6 and 0-2 in the LSC. ASU left a combined 20 runners stranded on base in the two games but did belt three home runs with two coming from Kenedy Urbany.

"This was a fun day of LSC softball," ASU head softball coach Travis Scott said. "Eastern New Mexico came out with the intent of sweeping us and I was proud of the way our team made the plays necessary to get the sweep. We left a ton of baserunners on base which was disappointing. I was proud of the way our pitchers competed today. We are going to need to play even better tomorrow to get two more wins."

The two teams were tied at three in the top of the sixth inning of game one. Ambra Hill led the inning off with a single and proceeded to steal second base. A sacrifice by Micherie Koria put Hill at third with a chance to take the lead. Rachel Moore hit a fly ball in the air and the ENMU right fielder dropped the ball allowing Hill to score. Urbany added some breathing room with a two-run home run to right center and a 6-3 advantage.

The sophomore limited ENMU to two hits over the final two innings to secure the win. Urbany threw a complete game giving up eight hits and three runs. The Helotes native struck out one batter and is now 9-0 on the season.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning. ENMU used a drop fly ball to get a runner at second base. The Zias took the first lead of the game at 1-0 after an RBI double.

The Rambelles answered in the top of the fourth. Megan Granado hit her first home run of the season down the right field line to tie the game at one. Lanie Robinson continued the strong start to the inning with a single. Lauryn Donnelly, pinch running for Robinson, would score on a bases loaded walk by  Moore. Urbany brought in Hill with a bases loaded walk to put the Rambelles on top 3-1.

The Zias tied the game in the bottom of the inning. ENMU had two outs and a runner on first base when Elizabeth Vezqauez hit a two-run home run to left center to make it three all.

ENMU came out in game two and took the lead in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double off Brandy Marlett.

Urbany quickly tied it in the top of the second with her second home run of the day. The sophomore hit a solo home run, her fifth of the season, to center. The Zias took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second with a RBI triple.

Another solo home run tied the game this time by Micherie Koria. The senior hit her first home run of the season to left center in the top of the third.

The Rambelles took the lead in the top of the fourth after Granado led the inning off with a single. Ciara Sheppard's double to left center gave ASU a 3-2 lead.
Marlett used the lead striking out three batters in the fourth. The freshman struck out seven Zia batters on the day.

Darian Dunn singled through the right side and pinch runner Brooke Mangold advanced to second on a single by Tina Cisneros. Granado picked up her second hit of the game with a double to right center to score Mangold. Sheppard produced again for the second-straight inning. The freshman singled to center field to plate Amber Rendon. Granado was able to make it 6-2 on a passed ball.

ENMU put the pressure on ASU in the sixth and seventh innings. The Zias hit two solo home runs in the sixth to cut the Rambelles lead to 6-4. Marlett would strikeout the No. 9 hitter to end the inning.

The freshman faced more adversity in the bottom of the seventh. Marlett struck out the first batter of the inning and gave up a walk and single to put runner at first and second. The Henderson, Nev., native got ENMU's Aurelia Sandoval to fly out. A walk by ENMU's Kyra Sirag would load the bases but Marlett induced a grounder to third base to end the game.

Marlett improved to 8-1 on the season after allowing nine hits and four runs. 

The Rambelles and Zias resume play with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 1 p.m. CST.