SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Western New Mexico University softball team stayed with Fort Lewis in the first game, coming up just short 13-9 before the Skyhawks took the doubleheader with a 12-2 win in five innings in the nightcap Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


In the first game, FLC (20-15, 18-8 RMAC) opened the game with the first run, as the teams would end up scoring a run in each of the first three innings, with the Skyhawks posting a run in the first four frames. WNMU (12-27, 7-19 RMAC) answered that run with an RBI single from Ashley Eichenberger to tie the game at one after one.


The action was just getting started, with FLC adding two more in the top of the second, but the Mustangs answered back in the home-half to take the lead. Singles by Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) and Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) opened the frame and later Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School), Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School) and Eichenberger all collected RBI hits for the 4-3 lead through two.
In the third, each two would score two runs apiece, with the Mustangs answering with a two-run home run by Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) for the 6-5 lead.


FLC was the only team to score in the fourth, posting four runs to open a 9-6 lead through four.


WNMU began to chip away, tallying two in the fifth with both runners coming home on a double by Vasquez and then another run in the sixth helped them draw even with an RBI double by McDonald.


The Skyhawks, though, wasted little time taking the lead for good in the final inning. In what saw the return of Bri Robles (Mesa, AZ/Mesa High School) to the circle, FLC took advantage of a hit-by-pitch, single and walk to quickly load the bases. They would end up scoring four in the inning which would be enough for the victory.


WNMU outhit FLC, 16-15, with Vasquez and Gahn leading the way with three hits apice. Batten, Eichenberger, Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) and McDonald all recorded two hits.


In the second game, the Skyhawks took advantage of three errors and four walks to score six runs on just three hits in the first inning.


WNMU came back with a two-run home run by Barnes in the home half to trim the deficit to four, 6-2, through one.


FLC had another six-run inning in the second inning would be enough, as the teams wouldn't score the rest of the way with the game ending in a run-rule five innings.


FLC outhit WNMU just 6-5, with Barnes going 3-for-3, with both runs batted in.


WNMU and FLC will conclude their four-game set with another doubleheader Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.