GOLDEN, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University softball team concluded their four-game set at Colorado School of Mines Saturday dropping two more games, 8-0 in five innings and 4-2 in game two in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


In the first game, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) was limited again by Colorado School of Mines (CSM) pitcher Kelly Unkrich, as she held the Lady Mustangs to just two hits.


WNMU (3-12, 0-4 RMAC) opened the game strong with a lined doubled to right-center by Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School). A groundout and a pair of strikeouts followed to end the threat.


CSM (13-2-1, 4-0 RMAC) posted a run in the first to open the early 1-0 advantage.


The Lady Mustangs would get a runner on in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) opened the frame with a single and would make it to third before a groundout ended the inning. In the fourth, Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) walked, but would be erased on a fielder's choice and later a strikeout ended the inning.


The Orediggers posted two in the third, two more in the fourth and then the final three in the fifth to force the run-rule victory.


CSM outhit WNMU, 9-2, as Macy Jones led CSM with two hits and three RBI.


Unkrich improved to 8-0 as she went the distance for CSM. Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) started for WNMU, taking the loss (0-2), as she lasted two innings, giving up two earned runs on two hits.


In the second game, similar to the nightcap from Friday, WNMU had their chances to come away with the victory.


CSM broke through first with a run in the second, but WNMU came back to tie things in the third.


Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) started the rally with a single to left-center. A sacrifice bunt by Munoz moved her to second. After a foul out marked the second out, Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) worked a walk and Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) came through with another RBI single, this one to left field to plate the run and tie the game at one. The Lady Mustangs almost came away with more in the inning, as Fanning later walked, but a flyout to center ended the threat.


CSM would regain the lead with a run in the fourth for a 2-1 lead and similar to earlier in the contest, WNMU answered right back in the next inning.


In the fifth, after the first two outs were recorded, McDonald doubled to left. Gahn followed with a single through the left side to put runners at the corners. Fanning came through with a single to second base that scored McDonald to tie the game at two.


The Orediggers didn't wait long to regain the lead, coming away with a two-run home run in the home half to take a 4-2 lead.


The Lady Mustangs would threaten one last time in the sixth. Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) walked to open the frame and Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) followed with a single to left. Diaz then placed a perfect bunt single to move everyone up and load the bases without an out. Then a fielder's choice groundout turned into a double play, with Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City), who pinch-ran for Shone and Vasquez being caught in the double play as Castillo was forced out at home and then Vasquez was thrown out between third and home for the second out. A strikeout would follow to end the inning.


WNMU outhit CSM, 7-6, as Gahn and Diaz each recorded two hits apiece. Ashly Goletz collected the win in the circle for CSM, lasting all seven innings, giving up two earned runs. Shone tossed a complete game for WNMU, as she fell to 3-5 on the season after allowing four earned runs. She had three walks and two strikeouts.


WNMU will return home this coming Saturday for their first home games of the season when they will battle Regis. The first game is set to being at 11 a.m., followed by the second game at 1 p.m.