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Sheila Johnson

Softball Brian Kortz

Softball Heads to Albuquerque to Open 2019 Season Against Oklahoma Baptist, Eastern New Mexico

Live stats link for entire series

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A three-game set over two days this weekend will mark the start of the 2019 season for the Fort Lewis College softball team when they travel to Albuquerque to face Oklahoma Baptist and Eastern New Mexico both on Friday, before a single game against the Greyhounds will take place Saturday at the U.S. Bank ENMU Softball Classic Kickoff. The games will be played at the Rio Rancho Softball Complex.

The Skyhawks will open the series on Friday at 11 a.m. against Oklahoma Baptist. Former Colorado Christian assistant coach Sam Maples took over as the head coach of Oklahoma Baptist and will enter her first season leading the Lady Bison program in 2019. This will be the first meeting between the teams.

Oklahoma Baptist went 16-31 last year, 6-18 away from home and 3-4 in neutral site games. They played a few South Central Region opponents in Tarleton State (2-11), Midwestern State (3-1) and Texas A&M-Commerce (1-2). Top hitter Cheyenne Demaree returns after posting a .352 batting average, 45 hits, eight doubles, 10 home runs and 29 RBI in 2018. Bry Flanagan was third on the team in home runs and returns after posting a .317 batting average, six home runs and a team-best 30 RBI. Kristen Grabin hit .350 last year and will also be back for the Lady Bison.

In the circle, Katie Long led the team in ERA (4.28), wins (7), complete games (8), shutouts (2), innings pitched (91.2) and in strikeouts (38) and will be back after playing as a true freshman in 2018. Chandler Roberts also had an ERA under 5 at 4.65 and is slated to return this season. Last year, Oklahoma Baptist hit .294 as a team, while opponents posted a .327 clip. They had a 5.05 team ERA and opponents had a 3.17 ERA.

FLC will face Eastern New Mexico on Friday at 3 p.m. and then again on Saturday at 3 p.m. to close the tournament. The Skyhawks are 2-6 against the Greyhounds out of the Lone Star Conference, with FLC winning the last game during the 2016 season.

A familiar face will be in the dugout for Eastern New Mexico in head coach Kira Zeiter. Zeiter led the Skyhawks from 2011-15, taking the team to the NCAA Division II Playoffs during the 2012 season after winning the RMAC Tournament. Zeiter is entering her first season at Eastern New Mexico.

Eastern New Mexico went 18-34 last year and 9-21 in the Lone Star Conference. The team faced a few RMAC schools, defeating Regis (5-4) and split four games against New Mexico Highlands. Top hitter Erikka Burke led the team in batting average (.406), home runs (15) and was second in RBI with 31, but will be in the dugout this year as an assistant coach. Jennifer McElroy returns after posting a .351 batting average, 15 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBI, leading the team in both doubles and RBI. Samantha Brockman is also back after hitting .300 with five doubles, four home runs and 21 RBI.

Hanna Gary returns to the circle after leading the team in ERA (5.94), appearances (31) and was second in innings pitched (88.1). Kimberly Herron also returns after pitching in 54.1 innings, picking up two wins and holding an 8.89 ERA.

Last year, FLC won 16 games for the first time since winning 16 during the 2015 campaign. The Skyhawks picked up RMAC wins against Colorado School of Mines, Regis, Adams State (twice), New Mexico Highlands (three games), CSU-Pueblo (twice) and ended the season with a road win at Chadron State.

Angelique Elemen led the team in batting average (.370), hits (54), home runs (11), RBI (33), slugging percentage (.671) and on-base percentage (.429). She also was strong in the field with a .985 fielding percentage. Returner Pilar Gutierrez was third on the team with a .313 batting average, while Allison Young added a .279 clip, McKenna Hefley at .275 and Taylor Beaman was at .274. McKenna Hefley was third on the team in home runs with five.

The pitching staff returns from last year in Mandy Lorenson, Kendra Keahbone, Kelly Decker and Kassidy Trumbo. Lorenson had a strong first season in Durango leading the team in ERA (3.60), wins (10), complete games (12), innings pitched (107) and strikeouts (116), while also adding a save. Keahbone was second on the team in wins with three, logging 67 innings in the circle. She appeared in 16 games, starting 11 and had six complete games, along with a 4.91 ERA. Decker tossed 86.2 innings, leading the team in appearances with 28 and tied Lorenson for the team lead in starts with 17. Trumbo saw action in 23 games, starting nine, with four complete games and pitching 65.1 innings.

This will be the first of three preseason tournaments for FLC, as they will travel to St. George, Utah next week to compete in the Dixie State Tournament (Feb. 7-9) and then in the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz. (Feb. 15-17). They will return home and open RMAC play on Feb. 23 against Colorado Mesa at Aspen Field.

Live stats will be available for the games this weekend in Albuquerque. 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Taylor Beaman

#17 Taylor Beaman

C/UT
5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
Kelly Decker

#11 Kelly Decker

P
5' 8"
Junior
R/R
Angelique Elemen

#27 Angelique Elemen

UT
5' 7"
Senior
R/R
Pilar Gutierrez

#9 Pilar Gutierrez

SB
5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
McKenna Hefley

#3 McKenna Hefley

C/UT
5' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Kendra Keahbone

#6 Kendra Keahbone

P
5' 6"
Sophomore
Mandy Lorenson

#1 Mandy Lorenson

P
5' 6"
Junior
R/R
Kassidy Trumbo

#18 Kassidy Trumbo

P
5' 11"
Sophomore
L/L
Allison Young

#2 Allison Young

OF
5' 5"
Junior
L/R

Players Mentioned

Taylor Beaman

#17 Taylor Beaman

5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
C/UT
Kelly Decker

#11 Kelly Decker

5' 8"
Junior
R/R
P
Angelique Elemen

#27 Angelique Elemen

5' 7"
Senior
R/R
UT
Pilar Gutierrez

#9 Pilar Gutierrez

5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
SB
McKenna Hefley

#3 McKenna Hefley

5' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
C/UT
Kendra Keahbone

#6 Kendra Keahbone

5' 6"
Sophomore
P
Mandy Lorenson

#1 Mandy Lorenson

5' 6"
Junior
R/R
P
Kassidy Trumbo

#18 Kassidy Trumbo

5' 11"
Sophomore
L/L
P
Allison Young

#2 Allison Young

5' 5"
Junior
L/R
OF