SILVER CITY, N.M. – With conditions ranging from cloudy to around 40 mph gusts and rain, the Western New Mexico University softball team battled the elements and Colorado Christian as the Cougars came away with a pair of wins, 13-12 and 11-8, Sunday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at the WNMU Softball Field.


In the first game, with the wind gusting at times when you wouldn't be able to see the field because of the dirt blowing around, both teams took advantage trying to life the ball in the air.


CCU (17-12, 13-3 RMAC) opened the scoring, racing out to a 12-0 lead by the time WNMU (11-22, 6-14 RMAC) came up to bat in the fourth. CCU took advantage of the wind to get the runs, recording four home runs that ended up driving in 10 runs, as two of them were grand slams.


The Mustangs fought back, rallying for five in the fourth. A walk opened the inning, which was followed by a pair of fielding errors. Kim McKnight (Fruitland, NM/Kirtland High School) singled home the first run through the left side, as on the play the third base was called for interference that allowed another run to score. Ashley Eichenberger and Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) knocked in the final three runs, with Eichenberger clocking a double for two RBI and Barnes an RBI single up the middle leaving it 12-5 through four.


After WNMU held the Cougars scoreless in the fifth, the offense kept coming. Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School) this time delivered the big blow, blasting a three-run homer way over the left field fence to cut the deficit to four. Later in the frame, Eichenberger came through with an RBI single leaving the Mustangs down by just three.


CCU would tally a run in the sixth and it would turn out to be a big one.


WNMU would have one last chance to come back in the seventh and they nearly did. After a strikeout, an error got the rally started. Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) followed with a single just out of the reach of the left fielder and then Eichenberger ripped a shot into left-center for the RBI. A popout followed for the second out before Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) cued a shot perfectly placed into right that fell for a double and two RBI leaving the Mustangs down one with the tying run at second. Genevieve Reyna though induced a final groundout by Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) to end the game and give CCU the win.


CCU outhit WNMU 17-14, with Eichenberger leading the way for the Mustangs with three hits. McKnight, Vasquez and Barnes all added two hits apiece.


WNMU took advantage of four CCU errors, as of their 12 runs scored, only four were earned.


Game two had a similar feel, with the Mustangs fighting back again.


Batten put WNMU on the board first with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second for the 2-0 lead.


CCU came back to tie it with two in the third and after WNMU posted a solo homer in the fourth on a blast by Higgins to regain the lead, the Cougars exploded for five in the fifth for an 7-3 lead.


They would add one more in the sixth for an 8-3 lead when WNMU came back to tie it at eight.


A single by Batten opened the frame and around a fielder's choice out, another single and a walk loaded the bases. McDonald cashed in the first run with an RBI single that dropped in left-center. Eichenberger followed with a bases-loaded walk for the RBI. Gahn added an RBI on a groundout and before the inning would come to an end, Jessica Jayo (Peoria, AZ/Centennial High School) doubled to left-center for two RBI and an eight-all tie through six.


The Cougars regained the lead for good in the seventh, as Hannah Rapoport came through with a big two out single just past Graf at third to bring in a pair. They would add another on their next at-bat for an 11-8 lead.


WNMU would get a hit and a walk in their last try, but that would be it as the Cougars held on for the win.


Each team posted 13 hits, with Eichenberger going 3-for-3 to lead the Mustangs. Jayo and Batten added two hits apiece.
Reyna went the distance in the circle for CCU tossing 133 pitches to collect the win.


Three Mustangs toed the rubber, with Batten going four innings and allowing just four earned runs.


WNMU will hit the road next week when they will travel to Denver to battle Metro State beginning on Saturday at 12 p.m.