SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team continued their great start to the conference schedule as they swept away Adams State following wins of 9-0 and 8-6 Sunday afternoon at the WNMU Softball Field in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


The first game was a runaway from the start for WNMU (9-8, 4-0 RMAC).


Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) opened the game with a double and after a walk, Ashly Eichenberger (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon High School) doubled home a run, which Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) added a double of her own to plate two for a 3-0 lead. Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) followed Barnes with a sacrifice fly to bring in the fourth and final run in the first frame.


In the second, Barnes tripled to deep right for an RBI, while Stephaine Higgins and Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School) added RBI singles later in the inning to open a 7-0 lead through two.


Higgins continued her hot start to conference play, connecting on a two-run homer that sailed out over the left field fence in the fourth to open a 9-0 lead for the Mustangs.


Bri Robles (Mesa, AZ/Mesa High School) wasn't about to let ASC (2-6, 0-4 RMAC) back into the game, as she worked around a walk in the fifth to keep her shutout and give WNMU a run-rule victory. Robles (5-6) collected the win in the circle working all five innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, along with striking out four.


Offensively, the Mustangs pounded out 11 hits led by a 3-for-3 effort from Barnes, along with three RBI. Higgins also had two RBI on a 2-for-3 first game at the plate, while Batten went 2-for-2 with an RBI.


The second game became a battle throughout, with big swings in momentum.


Eichenberger started her second game strong, connecting on a solo home run that flew over the left field fence in the first inning to give the Mustangs the early lead.


Two solo home runs in the top of the second had the Grizzlies in front by one, but the Mustangs answered in the home half.
Higgins opened with a walk, which Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) singled and then a perfectly placed bunt single by Batten found a hole between first and second that scored Higgins to tie the game. Courtney Graf (El Paso, TX/Coronado High School) followed with a sacrifice fly to right to score Gahn and give WNMU the lead back at 3-2 through two.


ASC regained the momentum in the third, with a pair of singles to open the inning and then both came home following a sac bunt to move both runners up, Lindquist singled through the right side just out of the reach of a diving Eichenberger to score both runs and put them back in front, 4-3.


It would remain that way into the fifth when ASC benefited from an error to score a run and then a single to plate the other run to open a 6-3 lead.


But, the Mustangs always ready for a comeback when needed began to fight their way back in the bottom of the fifth.
Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) and Eichenberger opened the frame with singles. Then, a weird play took place as Barnes hit the ball a mile high in front of the plate and the ball appeared to be heading foul, but then the wind blew it back into the field of play. Barnes took off and beat the throw at first which looked like the Mustangs would have the bases loaded, but upon further review it was called an infield fly out. On the play, however, with an infield fly runners are able to advance at their own discretion which is what both McDonald and Eichenberger did moving up to second and third. Gentry brought them both home with a ripped shot into left field that rolled close to the wall allowing both to come home on the double leaving WNMU down by just one. Higgins followed with a single, but Gentry was gunned down at the plate by the center fielder leaving the Grizzlies ahead by one after five.


Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School) kept ASC off the board in the sixth inning allowing the offense to go back to work.


Batten ignited the offense with a laced shot to center that she hustled and turned into a leadoff double. Graf advanced her with a sac bunt and Vasquez brought her home with a single into left-center to tie the game. The offense was far from down, however, as after a strikeout recorded the second out, Eichenberger came up in a big spot and delivered. Ahead in the count 2-0, she found the perfect pitch to attack, hitting it high into the sky and over the center field fence for a two-run home run that put WNMU ahead for good, 8-6.


Robles came on in the seventh and closed the game strong, as she worked around a one out walk to get a fly out and a strikeout swinging to end the game to pick up the save.


Smith (4-2) collected the win tossing six innings, giving up six runs, five earned on 11 hits, as she walked two and had four strikeouts.


The offense pounded out another 11 hits, led by a 3-for-4 effort by Eichenberger, as she had two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored. Batten also went 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.


WNMU will hit the road this coming weekend as they will play at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m.