GOLDEN, Colo. – With the weather cold and at times featuring snow, both teams struggled to score runs. In a pair of pitcher's duals, the Western New Mexico University softball team dropped two close games, 3-0 and 4-3, to the Colorado School of Mines Friday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


In the first game, RMAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Kelly Unkrich kept Western New Mexico University (WNMU) to just three hits. WNMU freshman pitcher Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) did her best to match the senior for Colorado School of Mines (CSM), as she allowed just six hits and one earned run.


The Lady Mustangs had a chance to break through first in the second, with Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) starting the inning with a ringing double to right-center. Unkrich came back to strikeout the next three Lady Mustangs keeping the game scoreless. CSM (11-2-1, 2-0 RMAC) then broke the scoreless tie with a two out single up the middle that scored an unearned run in the home half for the 1-0 lead.


WNMU (3-10, 0-2 RMAC) posted their second hit in the third with Preseason All-RMAC selection Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) coming away with a two out single, but a groundout to shortstop followed ending the inning.


With the score still 1-0 into the fifth, Shone tried to help herself in the batter's box, as she delivered a single down the left field line with one out. A strikeout and groundout followed ending the threat.


The Orediggers added the final two runs of the game in the sixth, plating two runs on two hits, along with two WNMU errors for the 3-0 lead. WNMU went down in order in the seventh to end the game.


No batter posted more than one hit, as Fanning's double was the only extra base hit in the contest.


Unkrich collected the win in the circle for CSM, moving to 7-0, while Shone took the loss in the circle for WNMU, falling to 3-4.


In the second game, it all came down to the final two innings.


With the game scoreless heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Orediggers came through with a pair of runs on four hits to take a 2-0 lead heading into the seventh.


WNMU wasn't fazed, as the Lady Mustangs opened the inning with a walk by Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) and the next batter, Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite), reached on a fielder's choice error by the pitcher to put runners at first and second with no outs. Higgins advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt moving the potential tying run into scoring position. A strikeout followed for the second out when Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) came through in the clutch, as she singled through the left side to plate both runners and tie the game at two. The Lady Mustangs weren't finished, as Fanning put WNMU in front with a single to left-center for the 3-2 lead, as all of the runs scored were unearned.


With WNMU now just three outs away, CSM began their comeback with a single and sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second with one out. A triple to deep right brought home the tying run and the Orediggers then won the game on an error by the shortstop on the next ball put in play for the 4-3 victory.


WNMU was efficient, as they tallied just four hits to collect their three runs, while CSM had nine hits.


Gahn tallied two hits to lead the way. BreAnna Eaker (Ramona, CA/James Madison) (0-4) ended up with the loss for WNMU, as she tossed the entire game coming away with seven strikeouts, three walks and three earned runs. Ashley Goletz (4-2) collected the win in the circle for the Orediggers, as she also pitched the entire game, as all her runs given up were unearned.


WNMU and CSM will play another doubleheader Saturday morning beginning at 11 a.m. to conclude their four-game series.