PORTALES, N.M. — St. Edward's battled throughout Saturday's road doubleheader but came up short in both contests as Eastern New Mexico swept the series with a 4-3 win in Game 1 and an 800 victory in Game 2 at Greyhound Softball Field.

The Hilltoppers (8-19) generated offense across the two games, collecting 13 hits on the day, but timely hits from the Greyhounds proved decisive in both contests.

Eastern New Mexico jumped ahead early in the opener, scoring twice in the first inning when Seneca Aarstad lined a two-run single to left center to give the Greyhounds a 2-0 lead.

St. Edward's responded in the fourth inning. DAFNE MERCADO sparked the rally with a solo home run to left-center field to cut the deficit in half. After Darian DeLeon reached on an error and SOFIA APONTE doubled, ALEA DESERRANO delivered a clutch two-run single up the middle to push the Hilltoppers in front, 3-2.

The Greyhounds answered in the fifth. A throwing error allowed the tying run to score before Aarstad struck again with an RBI single through the left side that put Eastern New Mexico back ahead, 4-3.

St. Edward's threatened late, putting two runners on in the seventh after singles from CIANA RODRIGUEZ and ARIANNA VIDALES, but the rally stalled as the Greyhounds secured the final out to preserve the one-run win.

The Hilltoppers finished Game 1 with eight hits, led by two from HANNA ZACHARY, while DeSerrano drove in two runs and Mercado added the home run.

Eastern New Mexico carried that momentum into the nightcap. The Greyhounds broke through in the second inning when Lorissa Scott doubled down the left-field line to score the game's first run.

A three-run third inning extended the lead as Christina Meneses, Giazza Lopez, and Ana Oquita each delivered RBI hits to make it 4-0.

The Greyhounds added another run in the fourth before pulling away in the fifth, capitalizing on a pair of St. Edward's errors during a three-run frame to end the game by run rule at 8-0.
Despite the loss, the Hilltoppers collected five hits in Game 2, including a two-hit performance from ALEA DESERRANO, while RYAN RANGEL, ALEAH HERNANDEZ, and HANNA ZACHARY each added singles.

St. Edward's will look to regroup at home next week, hosting the defending national champion UT Tyler Patriots on Friday, then Texas Woman's University on Sunday.