SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team honored their seven seniors Sunday and nearly send them out with a bang, as the Mustangs came close to taking both games from the Colorado School of Mines, but the Orediggers escaped with an 8-6 and 8-7 wins in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


In the first game, Colorado Mines (25-20, 22-12 RMAC) scored three in the first inning for the early lead, just to watch WNMU (14-35, 9-27 RMAC) come right back. The Mustangs came back with vengeance, with Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) driving in a run with a single and later Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) drove in two with a single to tie the game at three after one.


The Mustangs took the lead in the fourth on an unearned run, with Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) scoring on a throwing error by the first baseman for the 4-3 lead.
CSM tied it with a run in the fifth and then went ahead for good with four in the seventh. WNMU didn't go down without a fight in the home half. Courtney Graf (El Paso, TX/Coronado High School), Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) and Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ/Benson High School) all singled to open the inning to load the bases. Ashly Eichenberger (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon High School) followed with an RBI single and after an out, RIcki Gentry singles home another run to trim the deficit to two, 8-6. Kelly Unkrich then settled down, getting a lineout back to her and then a pop out to third to end the game.


WNMU outhit CSM, 13-12, with Eichenberger going 4-for-4, while Graf also had two hits as every Mustang tallied a hit.


Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School) (6-16) took the loss as she tossed 6.1 innings, giving up eight runs, six earned. Bri Robles (Mesa, AZ/Mesa High School) finished off the final two-thirds innings without allowing a hit.


The second game was just as close as the first with it looking like WNMU was set to come away with the victory.


After CSM opened with a three-spot in the first, WNMU again answered just like in the first game with three of their own to tie the game. Higgins delivered the big blow in the inning with a bases-clearing double to left-center that brought home Vasquez, Eichenberger and Barnes.


WNMU then knocked Ashley Goletz out of the circle in the second inning, as Graf opening with a single and after a sacrifice bunt by Vasquez moved her to second, Batten singled to center and then they both came home on a rocket shot to right-center off the bat of Eichenberger that sailed well over the fence for the three-run homer and a 6-3 lead. Goletz stayed in to face Barnes and she wasted little time taking her deep, as her shot sailed over the center field fence for back-to=back homers and a 7-3 lead that marked the end for Goletz.


Unkrich came on in relief having already thrown 115 pitches in the first game and she would end up keeping WNMU in check over the final 5.2 innings, allowing just four hits, a walk and a hit batter.


The Orediggers chipped away with a run in the third and two more in the fifth to get within one, 7-6 through five.


CSM then came away with the big blow, with Robles looking to close out the complete game win, the Orediggers put a pair of runners on with one out and both came home on a double by Paige Coufal that boosted CSM in front by one, 8-7.


WNMU had their chance to tie or win the game in the home half, but couldn't get the elusive hit. Jessica Jayo (Peoria, AZ/Centennial High School) opened the inning with a single up the middle and pinch-runner McDonald then moved to second on a sacrifice buny by Ashley Gonzales (Queen Creek, AZ/Queen Creek High School). Graf singled to left center, with the ball just finding room between two fielders to put runners at first and second. Vasquez followed with a cued shot that became a tough play for the first baseman, as she had to make a play on it and hit her second baseman and the throw was just in time to get Vasquez, but on the play both runners moved up with two outs. Unkrich got Batten to fly out to center to end the game and preserve the victory.


CSM outhit WNMU, 13-10, with seven Mustangs in the lineup coming away with hits, led by three from Barnes and two from Graf.


Robles tossed all seven innings (6-11) and ended up with the hard-luck loss. She allowed eight runs, all earned, on 13 hits, along with three walks and a strikeout in tossing 127 pitches.


WNMU also honored their seven seniors, 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) between games.


WNMU will conclude the season next weekend when they will play at first-place CSU-Pueblo with Saturday's doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.