SILVER CITY, N.M. – With snow falling and temperatures dropping, the Western New Mexico University softball team battle Colorado Mines, with the Orediggers taking the first game, 5-3, before the weather blew in and the teams battled not only each other by heavy snow in the second game that also went in the favor of Colorado Mines winning 11-3 in six innings Saturday in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


In the first game, Colorado Mines (23-20, 20-12 RMAC) struck first with an unearned run in the second inning for the 1-0 lead.
It would remain a pitcher's duel from that point on with Kelly Unkrich and Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School) matching zeros over the next three innings, although the Mustangs (14-33, 9-25 RMAC) had a chance to push a cross some runs in the second.


Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) and Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) singled to open the inning and after Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) forced a bases-loaded walk the Mustangs were in business. Unkrich then brought the heat, striking out three straight Mustangs all swinging to end the threat and leave the bases loaded.


The Orediggers tallied four runs in the sixth to open a 5-0 lead, but the Mustangs answered with three runs in the home half as Gahn connected on a 3-2 pitch and sent it over the left-field fence for a three-run homer run.


That would be as close as WNMU would get the rest of the way, with CSM pulling out the 5-3 win.


Each team tallied seven hits, with Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School) and Higgins recording two hits apiece.


Smith tossed all seven innings, allowing five runs, four earned on seven hits, along with three strikeouts in 87 pitches.


In the second game, snow was prevalent throughout, as the teams played the game with snow blowing all game long, sometimes so hard you could barely see players on the field.


CSM broke the seal in the third inning breaking through with four runs for the early advantage. WNMU came back with two in the home half, with Barnes tripling to deep center to bring in a run and then when the Orediggers had the ball back to the pitcher, Barnes alertly stole home on the pitcher without a throw to make it a 4-2 game.


The Orediggers controlled the rest of the way, plating a run in the fourth and then four more in the fifth aided by a three-run homer for a 9-2 lead. The Mustangs posted their last run of the game in the bottom of the fifth with Ashly Eichenberger (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon High School) opening the frame with a double to center and then Barnes singled to drive in the third run of the game.


CSM tallied two more runs in the sixth and after holding WNMU off the scoreboard, the run-rule took affect ending the game in six.


CSM outhit WNMU, 16-7, Barnes went 3-for-3 batting cleanup and Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School) added two hits out of the two hole.


Bri Robles (Mesa, AZ/Mesa High School) (6-10) tossed five innings, giving up nine runs, while Kim McKnight (Fruitland, NM/Kirtland High School) pitched the final inning allowing two runs.


WNMU and CSM will conclude their series on Sunday that is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. weather permitting. It will also be senior day between games for the seven seniors on the Mustangs squad, Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School), Ashly Eichenberger (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon High School), Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley High School), Jessica Jayo (Peoria, AZ/Centennial High School), Ashley Gonzales (Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek High School), Courtney Graf (El Paso, TX/Coronado High School) and Bri Robles (Mesa, AZ/Mesa High School).