PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western New Mexico University softball team rallied from a tough 8-0 setback in their season opener against Grand Canyon to defeat CSU-Easy Bay, 7-6, in the nightcap to split their first two games of the season in the Grand Canyon University Kickoff Saturday afternoon.


In the second game, the WNMU (1-1) bats came to life which was first allowed to make an impact after Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School) kept the Pioneers off balance in the circle early on.


WNMU, playing as the road team against CSU-East Bay (3-1), scored the first run of the game in the third inning with Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) cranking a home run over the left field fence for the leadoff solo homer.


The Pioneers answered in their half of the third, as they took advantage of a leadoff single, followed by a steal and then an error at shortstop brought home the unearned run to tie the game at one through three.


CSUEB took their first and only lead of the game in the fourth, as a leadoff solo home run put them in front 2-1.


WNMU quickly answered in the top of the fifth, as Vasquez singled to open the inning and after an out, an error by the right fielder on a ball put in play by Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) brought Vasquez all the way around from first with the tying run.


With the game still tied at two entering the sixth, the Mustang bats really came to life and never looked back.


Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School) started the inning with a bunt single. Stephaine Higgins wasted little time moving Batten on the base paths, as she ripped a double to deep left-center to put runners at second and third without an out. Jessica Jayo (Peoria, AZ/Centennial High School) promptly came through with the clutch hit, as she pinch-hit for Ashley Gonzales (Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek High School) and singled down the left field line to plate both Batten and Higgins and put WNMU in front, 4-2. The onslaught was far from over, as even with a pitching change, the bats remained hot. Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) forced a pinch-hit walk to put runners at first and second and another walk to Vasquez followed to load the bases for Ashly Eichenberger (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon High School). She delivered a double to left-center that brought home a pair and made it a 6-2 lead. Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) tallied the last run of the inning, as she hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Vasquez and give WNMU a 7-2 lead after six.


The Pioneers almost came all the way back in the final frame, as they scored four in the inning, with the big blast coming off the bat of Taylor Neumann who hit a three-run home run. CSUEB moved the potential tying run to second, but Smith was able to record the final out on a fly out to center to give WNMU the win.


Smith went all seven innings in the circle for the victory, giving up six runs, five earned on eight hits, allowing just one walk and striking out four.


Offensively, Vasquez and Batten recorded two hits apiece, with Jayo and Eichenberger tallying two RBI each. Vasquez also led the way with three runs scored.


In the first game, Grand Canyon rebounded from an earlier loss to CSUEB by defeating the Mustangs, 8-0.


The Lopes struck early and often, plating four runs on five hits in the first inning and never looked back.


They tallied two more in the fourth and a run each in the fifth and seventh.


WNMU was held to just two hits, with Vasquez and Eichenberger collecting the hits.


Bri Robles (Mesa, AZ/Mesa High School) took to the circle for WNMU and tossed all seven innings, giving up five earned runs, five walks and two strikeouts.


WNMU will remain in Phoenix on Sunday when they will play both Grand Canyon at 10 a.m. followed by CSU-East Bay at 12:30 p.m. Live stats will be available for both games.