It’s hard to follow up a no-hit performance, but Fort Lewis College’s Victoria Johnson had no letdown after blanking Cameron University in Friday’s win.
Johnson racked up another win and went the distance Saturday striking out 10 and giving up two earned runs as the Skyhawks (3-6) beat Eastern New Mexico 8-3. It is the first loss for the Greyhounds’ softball team this season. Johnson pushed her record to 3-1 and gave up only six hits in the process.
FLC catcher Angelique Elemen went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and three runs batted in. Tristen Gilbert was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Missy Fundora scored three runs in the leadoff slot for Fort Lewis.
Trailing 2-1 in the third inning, Elemen belted a two-run home run to left field that gave Fort Lewis its first lead. Her single in the following inning scored Fundora and gave Johnson a nice cushion.
Eastern New Mexico (2-1) cut the deficit to 4-3 with a run in the top half of the sixth, but the Skyhawks’ offense exploded in the bottom half.
After a series of wild pitches by Greyhound hurlers moved gave the Skyhawks free bases, Gilbert capped off a four-run frame with a ringing RBI double to left.
In the second game of the day, Fort Lewis ran into some trouble without its ace in the circle. Texas Woman’s University clobbered the Skyhawks’ pitchers from the start, as FLC lost 10-1 in six innings.
Elemen was the lone bright spot for the Fort Lewis offense, as her double in the fifth inning drove in the team’s only run.
Pioneers’ lead-off hitter Tealey Farquhar was 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored and catcher Amanda Gray was 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Fort Lewis will play another double-header Sunday starting with a 9:30 a.m. game with Angelo State followed by a 11:45 a.m. start against Lubbock Christian.
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