Artesia posts sweep of Lady Rams
Apr. 8—PORTALES — For two innings on Thursday, Portales High's softball team played right with the state's second-ranked Class 4A squad.
Unfortunately, it didn't last. Tied 4-4 after the second, the Lady Bulldogs ran away to a 17-4 victory, then beat PHS 20-0 in the nightcap in District 4-4A openers for both squads. Game 1 lasted six innings while the nightcap went five due to the 10-run lead rule, with Artesia scoring in all 11 frames.
Nine batters hit safely in the opener for the Lady Bulldogs (10-5 overall), led by junior Haley Tucker with 3-for-5, a triple, three RBIs and a run scored, and junior Elizabeth De La Riva, also 3-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Martinez limited PHS (6-6) to four hits, including a two-run double from senior Cyria Aguirre and a double and run scored from senior Emma Long. Martinez then came back with an abbreviated one-hitter in Game 2, walking no one and striking out five while permitting only a single by Lady Rams junior Bailey Hinderliter.
Artesia's second-game attack was paced by freshman Kayden Apodaca with 4-for-4, three doubles, a home run, four RBIs and four runs scored, and Tucker, also 4-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and three RBIs. Five others had two hits apiece, with senior Kayden Apodaca and junior Madison Martinez also belting home runs.
The Lady Rams have a busy week on tap. They were slated to host district twin bills against Lovington on Tuesday night and Roswell Goddard on Saturday, with a make-up twin bill at Clovis High set for tonight.
