PORTALES, N.M. – Midwestern State erased an 8-0 deficit with seven unanswered runs but came up just short to Eastern New Mexico, leaving the bases loaded in the seventh inning in an 8-7 loss to the Greyhounds in game one of a Saturday doubleheader at ENMU Softball Field.

Freshman right fielder Taylor Mordecai led Midwestern State (14-9, 2-1 LSC) at the plate with a 3-for-4 outing while matching junior designated hitter Baylee Voigt with a team-high two RBI.

Redshirt freshman Peyton Helton (4-6) was handed the loss in the circle, allowing six hits and four earned runs in 2.1 innings of work.

Eastern New Mexico (8-9, 1-2 LSC) struck for eight runs in the third with three errors by the MSU defense helping the Greyhounds mount a big inning at the plate. A single by second baseman Audrey Velasquez began the scoring for ENMU, driving in two runs, one coming off a fielding error in right field. A dropped fly ball in left field added another run for the Greyhounds before a three-run home run to center field for third baseman Morgan Green gave ENMU a 6-0 lead. A two-RBI single for catcher Simone Laurenz capped off the Greyhounds scoring for an 8-0 advantage.

Midwestern lit up the scoreboard in the fifth inning as senior center fielder Haley Howerton doubled to right center to plate junior pinch runner Jennifer Quintero for an 8-1 score.

A walk for freshman shortstop Makenzi Harris led up to a two-run home run for Mordecai to trim the ENMU lead to 8-3 in the sixth.

Voigt drove in two more runs for the Mustangs in the seventh after MSU loaded the bases with one out. Junior first baseman Erin Knox made it 8-6 with an RBI single before Harris reached on a fielding error in the infield to score Voigt. After a one-out single by Mordecai, the Mustangs were unable to plate the game-tying run as a popup and liner to third ended the MSU rally.