RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The Adams State Softball team got its 2019 season started on Friday with a pair of neutral site games on day one of the US Bank ENMU Softball Classic Kickoff. The team went 0-2 on the day.

The Grizzlies got the day started taking on the Oklahoma Baptist Bison (1-1). Through the first four innings the Grizzlies had multiple opportunities to score getting six runners in scoring position in that span but never got a runner home.

The first scoring opportunity of the game came in the top of the second. Shelby Haskins drew a leadoff walk to get on base before Rebecca Wood came on to pinch run. Alyssa Berteaux-Solorzano hit a single and Sarah Hansen connected with a sacrifice bunt to get the Grizzlies in scoring position.

The Bison answered and got back-to-back outs to end the inning. The top of third once again left two runners stranded for the Grizzlies. Angel Micciulli led off with a single and advanced following a ground out from Samantha McDonald, Jasmine Parker was walked. Brittany Phillips advanced both on fly out to center field before the Bison ended the inning.

An Oklahoma Baptist error and walk got two Adams State players on base in the fourth but once again they were left stranded. Oklahoma Baptist found an offensive groove in the bottom half of the inning scoring five runs on three hits and an Adams State error.

The Grizzlies got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. McDonald hit a leadoff double to get things going. Parker got her to third base with single to that position before an unassisted groundout from Haskins to the pitcher brought brought McDonald home.

The Bison got the run back in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to center field. They added three more hits in the inning but left three runners on base to maintain a five-run lead. Hansen matched the Bison homer with one of her own in the top of the sixth and the Grizzlies cut their deficit back to four, 6-2.

Oklahoma Baptist produced its final two runs in the bottom of the sixth on four hits to go up by six runs yet again. Adams State looked to rally but only scored one run to fall by five. The final run came on a solo home run from Haskins to center field.

Haskins finished with one hit in three plate appearances and tallied two RBI's. McDonald and Micciulli each had two hits in the game, while McDonald had one run. Parker, Kyrah Archibald, Kenzie Lange each had a stolen base. Jade Garbiso (0-1) got the start and went four full innings. She struck out five batters on the day and gave up five hits.

Bry Flanagan and Frankie Hull each finished 2-4 and had a run scored. Flanagan also had a game-high three RBI's. Pitcher Katie Long was a perfect 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored. In the circle she pitched a complete game giving up three runs, all earned, on eight hits and had four strikeouts for the win.
 

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Game two of the tournament for the Grizzlies was not as high scoring but the team managed just one run in a 4-1 loss to host Eastern New Mexico (1-1). The Grizzlies scored early but alate rally from the Greyhounds proved to be the difference maker.

The first inning had both teams leave two runners stranded with two hits apiece. McDonald led the game off with a base hit to the shortstop but was run down between first and second base before a Breanna Shaffer double went down the left field line.

Following a scoreless first inning, Adams State grabbed its first lead of the day in either game in emphatic fashion. Julia Jimenez connected with a line drive that had no doubt on it as she hit a leadoff solo homerun to left center field. 

The Grizzlies then went three up-three down on defense to maintain a 1-0 lead going into the third. Both squads once again got two runners in scoring position in the third on two hits, respectively, but both were left stranded.

The Greyhounds rally came in the bottom of the six as five hits drove in four runs to give the host team a 4-1 lead late. The Grizzlies looked to respond in the seventh as Hannah Wirtjes led off with a single to the shortstop.

Following substitution, Baylie Fryar got on base thanks to a fielder choice from the Greyhounds. Rachel Mobley then lined into a double play to second base and Fryar was out on the play and the host team shut the door on any rally from the Grizzlies.

McDonald collected two hits in three at bats. Jimenez had the lone run scored and RBI for Adams State. Jimenez ,along with Wirtjes and Mobley all finished 1-3 hitting wise for the game. Phillips got the start in the circle as she and Garbiso (0-1) both pitched three innings apiece.

Jennifer McElroy had a game-high three hits in four plate appearances to lead ENMU. Haleigh Behncke and Precious Aguirre each went 1-3 with a run scored and a RBI, respectively. Elyse Rodriguez scored one run as well and Kayla Marshall tallied two hits in four at bats. Hannah Gary (1-0) pitched a complete game giving up just the one run and seven hits on the night.

The Grizzlies will look to end the ENMU Classic on a high note as they take on the Bison for a second time on Saturday, Feb. 2. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. at the Rio Rancho High School Softball Complex.