DENTON, Texas (March 17, 2017) - Tylia Sylestine and Abby Walker each registered walk-off home runs for Texas Woman's University in a pair of 11-3 and 12-2 wins over Eastern New Mexico Friday at Pioneer Field to increase TWU's win streak to nine games.
 
Texas Woman's 11, Eastern New Mexico 3 (Six innings)
 
The second batter for the Greyhounds smashed a home run down the right field line just inside the foul pole to give ENMU a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the Pioneers took their turn at the plate. Nicole Nordie singled down the left field line followed by a single from Katy Stephens. Nordie hurried to third during a Greyhound error before a sacrifice fly by Hazel Puempel brought Nordie in to tie the game.
 
Puempel sent a shot over ENMU's shortstop in the third inning before a Sylestine single up the middle. As Tori Bice was headed to first after a hit, Eastern tried to put Puempel out at third but the ball went sailing into the Greyhoud dugout to give the runners an extra base and score Puempel. A sacrifice bunt by Alexis Elizondo scored pinch runner Logan Polasek to put the Pioneers up 3-1.
 
Two walks and another sacrifice bunt in the fourth placed TWU runners on second and third to set up an RBI single to right center by Stephens for another Pioneer run. Puempel reached on a fielder's choice and gave Nordie time to make it home for a 5-1 advantage. ENMU added a run in the top of the sixth by sliding into home on an RBI single to center field to cut the lead to three.
 
Tara Solomon doubled down the left field line and Nordie walked in the bottom of the sixth before Stephens doubled to left center to score both runners. A single to right center by Puempel scored Stephens for an 8-3 Pioneer lead. Sylestine connected on her first pitch and sent the ball careening off the center field fence for two more scores to end the contest and run-rule the Greyhounds, 11-3.
 
Walker (8-3) notched the win on four hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
 
Texas Woman's 12, Eastern New Mexico 2 (Six innings)
 
The first hit of game two came on a Bice single to left field in the bottom of the second and a sacrifice bunt Elizondo pushed her to second but she was left stranded.
 
The Greyhounds placed a hit down the right field line just out of reach of a diving Solomon to begin the third inning. An ENMU batter was hit by a pitch, and a fielder's choice caught the runner at second while advancing a Greyhound to third. A sacrifice bunt turned into a run for ENMU due to a TWU error to put the Greyhounds up 1-0.
 
Nordie singled up the middle in the bottom half of the frame and Stephens sent a single past two diving infielders. Puempel reached on a fielder's choice to put Nordie on third before Sylestine directed a hit past the pitcher allowing two runners to score for a 2-1 TWU edge. Bice sailed a ball to right field that was caught but created enough time for Puempel to tag up and hurry home.
 
A double down the left field line in the fifth led to an RBI single up the middle for the Greyhounds to pull ENMU to within 3-2. Facing two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the Pioneers went on an offensive tear beginning with singles from Morgan Harrison and Solomon. Nordie sailed the ball to right field where the Greyhound outfielder dove while the ball came out of her glove as two runs scored and Nordie sprinted to third. RBI singles by Stephens and Sylestine brought in another pair, and Bice doubled to right field to add two more. Walker notched her first home run as a Pioneer with two runners on for the 12-2 victory.
 
Bice (6-6) took the win with five hits, two walks and a strikeout.
 
The Pioneers finish their three-game series tomorrow at Pioneer Field with a single game at 1 p.m. followed by a free youth clinic.