Midwestern State (8-5, 3-3) at Eastern New Mexico (10-8, 3-3)
Lone Star Conference Series
Friday & Saturday, March 2-3, 2018 | 6 p.m. / 8 p.m. / 12 p.m.
ENMU Softball Field | Portales, N.M.
MSU leads the all-time series 18-5 | 9-1 vs. the Greyhounds on the road | MSU lost the series at home to ENMU last season, 2-1
Game 1 Live Stats: GoEasternAthletics.com | Game 2 Live Stats: GoEasternAthletics.com | Game 3 Live Stats: GoEasternAthletics.com
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
 
LEADING OFF: The MSU Texas softball team continues Lone Star Conference play this weekend against Eastern New Mexico in Portales on Friday and Saturday. Midwestern State puts its perfect 4-0 road record on the line against the Greyhounds (10-8, 3-3).
 
CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL: MSU ranks fifth nationally and second in the Lone Star Conference, clubbing 1.46 home runs per game. The Maroon and Gold have blasted 19 long balls in 13 games, including a season-high five in game two of the doubleheader at UT Permian Basin. The five dingers against the Falcons ties the most in an NCAA DII game this season. Nine different players have gone yard, led by junior second baseman Samantha Loos with six.
 
SAMI SOFTBALL: Junior second baseman Samantha Loos leads the team in runs (13), homers (6), RBI (13), total bases (30), slugging (.833), walks (8), HBP (2) and on-base percentage (.457). Her six round-trippers and 0.50 homers per game rank 10^th-nationally. The Udall, Kansas, native has reached safely in 11-straight games and is hitting at a .381 clip in her last six games, including four multi-hit outings.
 
EROPKIN HITTING ROPES: After being held hitless in the first two games of the season, sophomore outfielder Kelsey Eropkin has been on a tear, hitting safely in the last 11 games with a .359 average and nine runs scored. Overall, the Tulsa transfer is hitting .304 with three steals.
 
ENTER SANDMAN: Junior pitcher Abbie Lancaster has been stellar coming out of the bullpen this year with a 1.93 ERA in nine appearances and 25.1 innings of relief. The Idabel, Okla., native is holding hitters to a .198 average and is second nationally with three saves.
 
RUNNING WITH THE HOUNDS: Eastern New Mexico enters the series after being swept by Tarleton State last weekend. The Greyhounds (10-8, 3-3 LSC) previously swept Western New Mexico and won four-of-five at the St. Mary's Classic in San Antonio. ENMU hits .273 as a team and averages 4.67 runs per game while the Greyhounds' pitching staff boasts a 4.26 ERA. Senior first baseman Erikka Burke powers the offense, hitting .431 with eight homers and 16 RBI to go along with a 1.020 slugging percentage. Junior Leslie Reyes (4-5, 3.87 ERA, 54.1 IP) has been the primary starter in the circle while junior Hanna Gary (4-1, 3.61 ERA, 40.2 IP) has made eight relief appearances and three starts.