PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western New Mexico University softball team battled hard but fell in both games Saturday, first falling to Grand Canyon, 8-2, and then 7-4 against Notre Dame de Namur in the nightcap.


Notre Dame de Namur opened the scoring in the third inning with three runs on three hits. The Argonauts would build the lead to 6-0 thanks to three more runs on three hits in the fourth.


WNMU responded in the fifth with Ashley Gonzalez walking with the bases loaded to bring home Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School). Courtney Graf (El Paso, TX/Coronado High School) grounded out to second in the next at-bat to bring in Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School). The final run of the inning for the Mustangs came on a groundout RBI by Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) which plated Jessica Jayo (Peoria, AZ/Centennial High School) to leave it a 6-3 lead for NDNU through five.


NDNU would add another run in the sixth before the Mustangs would fight back in the seventh. McDonald opened the inning with a single. After a pair of outs were recorded, Graf doubled to right to score Gonzalez to make it a 7-4 affair before a strikeout ended the game.


In the circle, Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School) went all six innings, allowing seven runs, six earned on eight hits. Offensively, five Mustangs combined for the teams five hits.
In the first game, WNMU continued to struggle against Grand Canyon with the Lopes getting the best of the Mustangs, 8-2.


GCU opened an 8-0 lead through the first four innings before the Mustangs tallied their only two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jessica Jayo (Peoria, AZ/Centennial High School) walked and Courtney Graf (El Paso, TX/Coronado High School) singled to open the inning. After two outs were recorded, a ball put in play by Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) wasn't fielded by the shortstop that allowed both runs to come home and provide the final scoring margin.


Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) and Graf accounted for the only two hits for the Mustangs. In the circle, Bri Robles (Mesa, AZ/Mesa High School) tossed four innings, allowing all eight runs, six earned. Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School) pitched the final three innings allowing just two hits.


WNMU will remain in Phoenix Sunday as they will face Notre Dame de Namur at 2 p.m. and Grand Canyon at 4:30 p.m.