The WNMU softball team nearly had two wins in their hand on Tuesday afternoon, but Chadron State rallied back with six unanswered runs in game two after an earlier 8-3 loss in the first game. Chadron State won the second game, 8-6, in eight innings.

The Mustangs are now 5-9 overall and even in conference play (1-1). The Eagles' record is 4-7 overall and also 1-1 in the RMAC.

The Mustangs win when they don't commit any errors. That is what happened in the first match-up of the doubleheader. WNMU smacked 14 hits while having a goose egg in the error category.

WNMU got off to a great start with three runs in the first. Leadoff batter Kortney Smith (Maricopa, AZ, Marana High School, Central Arizona Community College) kick started the day with a single to centerfield. She then stole second, lining things up for the next batter, Rebecca Reynolds (Benson, AZ, Benson High School). Reynolds drove the ball down left field to take two bases and drive in Smith.

Next senior Kristina Barr (San Diego, CA, La Costa Canyon High School, Central Community College) singled to right field. Both Reynolds and Barr each scored later. Reynolds posted a run on Brittney Batten's (Benson, AZ, Benson High School) sacrifice lineout. Barr crossed home plate thanks to Micaela Miller (Peoria, AZ, Sunrise Mountain High School, Glendale Community College). Miller posted four hits in the game along with three RBIs to lead the team.

Both teams traded runs in the second, but pitcher Emily Huhta (Albuquerque, NM, Manzano High School, Lamar Community College) silenced the Eagles for the next three innings. The Mustangs, on the other hand, tacked on another run in the third and two more in the third.

Chadron State tried to get back into the game in the top of the seventh. With two outs and the bases loaded, a single by Jamie Mazankowski brought in one runner. That is all the purple and gold would allow though. The game ended with an easy tag to the second base.

Reynolds finished game one with three hits and nine putouts. Smith and Barr both finished with two hits.

Huhta recorded the win and improved to 2-0 on the season.

In game two, WNMU had a 6-2 lead after three innings, but that is when the errors started to roll in.

In the top of the fifth, the Mustangs posted three errors and allowed three unearned runs to cut the WNMU lead to just one, 6-5. Chadron State then recorded another run in the sixth to send the game to extra innings.

With Chadron up to bat, pitcher Hannah Dodson (Alpine, TX, Alpine High School, Odessa College) quickly posted two outs, but the Eagles connected on four straight hits to bring two home. WNMU could not answer as it was 1-2-3 for the Mustangs on their at-bat.

WNMU committed five errors in the loss.

Miller notched another two hits in the second game while Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ, Deer Valley High School) and Smith had three hits each to lead the team.

Dodson recorded her fourth loss (2-4) in the pitching circle.

Click here for complete game 1 statistics.

Click here for complete game 2 statistics.