SILVER CITY, N.M.— The Western New Mexico University softball team used an 11-run outburst in the sixth inning of game two to pull out an incredible 21-20 victory against Fort Lewis College after the Skyhawks collected the win in game one, 11-9, Sunday in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


The second game featured just about everything. There were a total of 40 hits, 14 walks, eight wild pitches, nine pitchers and 301 pitches thrown in the two-and-a-half hour marathon.


WNMU (13-28, 8-20 RMAC) started strong, with five runs in the first inning. Following an out, a double and single by Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School) and Ashly Eichenberger (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon High School), respectively, set the table for a RBI single by Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) and then a three-run bomb by Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) that sailed over the left field fence for a 4-0 lead. The Mustangs weren't done in the inning, with Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) adding a solo shot to make it a 5-0 lead through one.


 FLC (21-16, 19-9 RMAC) quickly came back with five runs of their own in the second to tie the game. They added a run in the third to take a 6-5 lead, but it wouldn't last long.


In the bottom of the third, Courtney Graf (El Paso, TX/Coronado High School) came through with a double into left-center that scored a pair and later an error by the third baseman brought home the third run of the inning for an 8-6 lead after three.


FLC would answer back with four in the fourth and two in the fifth for a 12-8 lead. In the home half of the fifth, A Graf RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly by Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) helped WNMU post two more runs to trim the deficit to two, 12-10.
Then it looked like FLC was set to put the game away in the sixth. They came through with seven runs to open a 19-10 lead, which meant the Mustangs had to score at least two runs to avoid the run-rule.


They would avoid the run-rule and then some. It looked to be a quick inning for FLC, as after a double by Eichenberger and then a single by Barnes brought her home, a groundout and then after Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) doubled to plate another run, she was cut down trying to move to third on a hit by Kim McKnight (Fruitland, NM/Kirtland High School) which left it at a 19-12 game and two outs on the board. That's when the bats and patience really came through for the Mustangs. Ashley Gonzales (Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek High School) continued her perfect game two with a two-run homer to left to leave the deficit to five. Graf, Vasquez and Batten would follow with singles to load the bases. Eichenberger singled to plate a run before the walk-a-thon took place. Barnes, Higgins and Gahn all walked with the bases loaded collecting RBI in the process leaving WNMU down by just one when the dust settled, 19-18. McKnight ended the walks with the big hit of the game, poking one through the right side that plated two for a 20-19 lead. The offense still had one more run left in them, as Gonzales came through with another RBI as she doubled to left-center to give the Mustangs 11 runs in the inning and a 21-20 lead.


McKnight would make the lead holdup, as following a leadoff home run cut the lead to one, she recorded a pair of outs and then after a walk, a lineout to Gonzales a shortstop ended the game giving WNMU the improbable win.


Everyone in the WNMU lineup had at least a hit, with Gonzales going 4-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and three RBI. Eichenberger and Barnes had three hits apiece, while Batten, Higgins, Gahn, McDonald, McKnight and Graf posted two hits each.


McKnight (1-2) collected her first win of the season, tossing 1.2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned on one hit.


In the first game, it was another shootout just like the first game Saturday. Both teams posted runs early and often, with WNMU striking first as Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) connected on the first pitch of the game and hit it way over the left-field fence for the home run and a 1-0 lead through one.


FLC answered back with three in the second before the Mustangs would post a five-spot in the home half to regain the lead. A pair of singles opened the inning and after two outs were recorded, an RBI single by Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School) opened the flood gates. A wild pitch would then score the second run of the inning before Ashley Eichenberger walked in front of a three-run home run by Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) that sailed over the center field fence and a 6-3 lead after two.


FLC went back on the attack, scoring four more times in the third for the 7-6 lead. WNMU answered back with two in the home-half to regain the lead, with Eichenberger coming through with a clutch two-out double to drive in both runs.
Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) would open the fourth with a solo shot to center for a 9-7 lead, but FLC refused to go away, scoring two in the fifth to retie the game at nine which would remain that way into the seventh.


The Skyhawks took advantage of a key error with two outs to keep the inning going in which they would plate two runs for the 11-9 lead. WNMU threatened in their last chance, tallying a single and double to leadoff the inning, but a lineout, groundout and flyout ended the threat giving FLC the close victory.


FLC outhit WNMU, 16-13, with Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) going 3-for-4 , along with a 3-for-4 effort from Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School). Eichenberger also added two hits.


WNMU will hit the road this coming week when they will play at Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colo., with the series beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon.