COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – So much for a tough extra inning defeat from the day before derailing these Mustangs. The Western New Mexico University softball team came back with a vengeance pounding out 41 hits and 36 runs to sweep away the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, 17-11 and 19-6 in six innings Sunday in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


WNMU (11-10, 6-2 RMAC) had the sticks working early in the first game with Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) doubling and Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) singling to open the game. After a strikeout, Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) singled in a run and Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) doubled home two to leave WNMU up 3-0.


UCCS (7-5, 5-3 RMAC) answered back with a three-run homer in the bottom half to tie the game at three through one.


The Mustangs then posted six over the next two frames, tallying a run in the second on an RBI single by McDonald before ripping off a five spot in the third. The first three base runners reached, two via singles and one on an error as the second single by Jessica Jayo (Peoria, AZ/Centennial High School) scored the first run of the inning. A put out and a walk followed in front of a sacrifice fly from Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) and then a blasted three-run home run by leadoff batter Vasquez boosted the lead to 9-3.


The Mountain Lions fought back with a run in the third and five more in the fourth to pull even at nine.


The WNMU offense kept charging as two singles and a walk opened the fifth with the bases loaded. Vasquez singled home a run, while Barnes doubled home another. Ashley Gonzales (Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek High School) also scored on a wild pitch to put WNMU back in front, 12-9.


It would stay that way into the seventh when the Mustangs put the game out of reach for good.


What looked to be an easy inning, with the first two batters retired, McDonald connected on a solo home run and then an error on the third baseman kept the inning going to allow four more runs to score. Higgins tallied an RBI double, along with an RBI double by Jayo before Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School) closed the scoring with an RBI single to leave WNMU in front, 17-9.


UCCS tallied two in the seventh, but it wouldn't be enough to overtake the Mustangs.


WNMU outhit UCCS, 21-14, with Vasquez going 4-for-5 with two runs scored, a homer and four RBI. Barnes also had four hits in four trips with three runs scored and two RBI. McDonald and Gonzales added three hits apiece, while eight of the nine Mustangs in the lineup recorded at least one hit.


Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School) tossed a complete game in the circle to collect her fifth win (5-3), as she allowed 11 ruins, all earned on 14 hits, along with two walks and two strikeouts.


Game two had a similar feel to it, but it was more in the favor of WNMU with the offense still red hot from the first game.
UCCS took the early lead posting a run in the first inning against Smith and that would be her last inning until reappearing later in the game.


Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) rekindled her old pitching days as she entered the circle in the second and held UCCS without a run all the way into the fifth. That allowed plenty of time for the offense to begin to put the game out of reach.


Still trailing 1-0 in the third, the offense batted around posting seven runs. Courtney Graf (El Paso, TX/Coronado High School) started the rally with a single, which Vasquez followed with a walk and after a bunt single by McDonald, the bases were quickly loaded with no outs. Graf came home on the next play on a passed ball in front of a single off the bat of Eichenberger to give WNMU the 2-1 lead. After a flyout, Higgins reached on an error to reload the bases. Gentry followed with an RBI single and another by Batten brought home a pair. Gonzales closed the rally with a double to left-center for another pair of runs for a 7-1 lead through three.


The offense quickly went back on the field and continued the assault in the fourth.


Higgins posted a two-run double, with Batten adding an RBI single and Graf a two-run single for five more runs and a commanding 12-1 lead through four innings.


WNMU posted another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Higgins to hold a 13-1 lead.


UCCS kept the game going, though, as a grand slam knocked Gentry out of the game and an unearned run made the game go another inning with WNMU still ahead 13-6, as Smith eventually came back on in relief of both Gentry and Batten in the inning to get the final two outs.


WNMU was fired up to have to go another inning, as the offense took it out on the UCCS pitching staff once more with six runs in the sixth. Three home runs brought in all six, with Gonzales smashing a two-run shot, Graf followed with a solo shot to go back-to-back and later Barnes capped the inning with a three-run homer to make it a 19-6 game.


It would end that way with Smith keeping the Mountain Lions off the board in the home half to give WNMU the sweep.


WNMU outhit UCCS, 20-6, with McDonald, Eichenberger, Batten and Graf all recording three hits apiece. All nine batters in the lineup recorded a hit.


In the circle, Gentry collected her first win lasting 3.1 innings and not allowing any runs until her last inning when she gave up four, all earned on five hits. Smith also went 2.2 more innings, giving up one earned run on one hit. Batten gave up one unearned run in her relief appearance.


WNMU will remain on the road this upcoming week as they will play a two-game set on Wednesday at in-state rival New Mexico Highlands (10-8, 5-3 RMAC) as the Cowgirls split a four-game series in Las Vegas this weekend with Colorado Mesa beginning at noon.