SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team battled but in the end New Mexico Highlands came away with the sweep, winning 10-1 in five and 12-7 in the nightcap in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Wednesday at the WNMU Softball Field.


WNMU (11-18, 6-10 RMAC) struck first in game one, as the first two outs were quickly recorded before a single and then an error set the table for an RBI single from Jessica Jayo (Peoria, AZ/Centennial High School) to score Ashly Eichenberger (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon High School) for the early 1-0 lead.


NMHU (15-11, 10-6 RMAC) then went to work with the bats, plating six in the second and four more in the third, which would turn out to be the last runs scored in the five inning shortened run-rule affair.


Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) collected two of the three Mustangs hits to lead the team.


In the second game, the Cowgirls started early scoring eight runs combined in the second through fourth innings for an early 8-0 lead.


The Mustangs battled back in the home half of the fourth, with Eichenberger and Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) opened the frame with singles to set the table for Higgins who blasted a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence to bring WNMU within five, 8-3. WNMU would go on to load the bases later in the inning, but Jenelle Klassen came on in relief to record the final out to leave them loaded.


After Kim McKnight (Fruitland, NM/Kirtland High School) kept the Cowgirls off the board in the fifth, the offense plated two more runs in the bottom half with Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) bringing one home on an RBI single through the left side and the other, Higgins, scoring on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to three, 8-5.


NMHU then put the game out of reach with two in the sixth and two more in the seventh to push the lead back to seven, 12-5.


WNMU still had fight in the last inning, as Eichenberger opened the frame with a single and quickly came home on a rocked two-run homer by Barnes, but that would be the final runs scored with NMHU coming away with the win.


The Mustangs tallied eight hits, with Eichenberger, Barnes and Courtney Graf (El Paso, TX/Coronado High School) collecting two hits apiece.


WNMU will remain at home this weekend when they will host Colorado Christian for a four-game set beginning on Saturday with a doubleheader at 12 p.m.