Portales senior Tayler Lucero tries to beat out a bunt in the fifth inning

Portales started slow, but finished dominant.

The host Lady Rams trailed early, but rallied for a 7-4 victory in the opener before taking the nightcap 7-1 in the District 4-3A doubleheader.

Lovington got on the board early in the first game, touching Portales junior Amanda Marquez for four hits. Portales answered in the bottom of the first with a walks to junior Jaci Terry, Marquez and sophomore Gabby Garcia to load the bases. The Lady Rams got a single from freshman Cynthia Armijo and a double from Sorina Flores to break the game open 5-3.

“Amanda struggled at the very beginning, but I think a lot that was nerves,” Portales coach Robbie Crowley said. “She settled down and threw a good game, the girls got behind her, and played some tough defense.

“We didn’t give them anything. What they got, they had to earn.”

The Lady Rams (9-7, 2-0 district) coasted, adding a run in the third and fifth innings as Marquez allowed one run and three hits the rest of the way.

Lovington coach Mary Eileen McCraw said she was disappointed because the Lady Wildcats (5-9, 0-2) got the jump on Portales early in the game, but things just fell apart.

“We did not execute our game,” McCraw said. “We let our emotions go, which is never good. I’m glad the way to field settled down.”

Terry went 2-4, with two singles and one run for Portales. Flores went 2-3 with a single and a walk.

In game two Portales kept its bats alive, scoring runs in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings. LeAnne Blaeser got the win, and went 2-for-4 with two RBI.