PORTALES, New Mexico – The No. 8 Angelo State softball team swept the first two games of its LSC doubleheader with Eastern New Mexico 4-3 and 23-8 in five innings on Friday afternoon in Portales, New Mexico.
The Rambelles improve to 24-1 overall and 8-0 in the Lone Star Conference while the Greyhounds fall to 13-18 and 6-5 in the LSC.  ASU recorded a combined 27 runs and 33 hits in the two games.
"Brandy (Marlett) was just dominant today," Angelo State head softball coach Travis Scott said. "Seventeen strikeouts and setting the school record was big. ENMU put pressure on us and we made an error that hurt. We had to battle and scrap to get the win in the first game. In game two, we were able to hit and score up and down the lineup. Courtney Barnhill had a great day and Heather Reatherford went 3-for-3 and Megan Gordon had a couple of hits. It was good to see those girls come in and keep the offense going. It was good to get two wins and stay undefeated in conference play."
Marlett was the story in game one. The junior set the school record for most strikeouts in a single game with 17. The previous record of 15 was held by Claudia Lopez against Eastern New Mexico in 2004.
The Henderson, Nevada, native struck out five of the first six batters and 13 of the first 15 batters. She would only allow one hit through the first five innings.
The Rambelles offense would struggle leaving 12 runners on base in the game but broke through in the fourth. Alexis Evans hit a RBI single and would score on a single from Bailey Wallace for a 2-0 advantage after the fourth.
Courtney Barnhill started the fifth with a bang. The freshman launched a ball to deep center field for her eight home run of the season. She would add another RBI to her total in the sixth. She singled up the middle to score pinch runner Kelly Johnson for a 4-0 lead after six.
ENMU made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth. Three straight singles off Marlett loaded the bases and a hit-by-pitch made it 4-1. An error would score two runs to cut the deficit to 4-3 with no outs. Marlett settled in and struck out the next batter for the first out of the inning. ENMU tried to score on a wild pitch but Taegan Kirk tossed it to Marlett for the second out of the inning. The inning ended with another strikeout.
Marlett ended the game by striking out two of the last three batters in the seventh for her 10th win of the season. She gave up three runs on four hits and only walked one.
The Rambelles offense woke up for game two scoring the second most runs in school history and tying the school record for most hits in a game with 23.
ASU started the first inning by sending every player in the lineup to the plate. Kirk started the scoring with a two-RBI single down the left field line. Danae Bina drew a bases loaded walk and Evans hit a sacrifice fly for the fourth run of the game.
The runs continued in the second. Karina Rocha drew a bases loaded walk followed by Bina drilling a double down the left field line to score two. Evans cleared the bases with a three-run home run to make it 10-0 after only two innings. It is her third home run of the season for the senior.
The third had four runs cross the plate. Heather Reatherford recorded a RBI single and Bina had her third RBI of the game on a single up the middle. A throwing error by ENMU allowed Reatherford to score and hit a RBI single to increase the lead to 14-0.
ASU added to the lead in the fourth as Kelly Johnson led off the inning with her third home run of the season. Reatherford added another RBI on a single to left field and another ENMU error allowed a run. Megan Gordon hit a two-RBI single to centerfield for a 19-0 advantage.
ENMU scored two runs in the fourth but ASU answered in the top of the 5th. Bina started the scoring with a RBI fielder's choice and Becky Wilhelm roped a double down the right field line to score two more. A bases loaded hit-by-pitch by Bailey Wallace gave ASU a 23-2 lead.
The Greyhounds wouldn't quit and scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth but Morgan Hill got the final out for the 23-8 victory. The junior improves to 5-0 on the season after giving up eight runs on eight hits and five walks.
The Rambelles will play the series finale at 12 p.m. MST / 1 p.m. CST tomorrow in Portales, New Mexico.
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