Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team used an offensive explosion in the second game to gain a split with New Mexico Highlands University Saturday with the Cowgirls taking game one, 4-2, and then the Lady Mustangs responded with a 12-3 five inning win in the nightcap in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


In the first game, New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) broke through first with a run in the fourth.


Western New Mexico University (WNMU) answered back in the home half, with Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) starting the rally with a one out single up the middle. Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) worked a full-count walk and a Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) single with two strikes loaded the bases. Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) also came through on a two-strike pitch singling to center to plate Gahn to tie the game. Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) then got just enough on a fly ball that reached shallow right field that was caught by the second baseman, but her throw wasn't in time to get the tagging Fanning to put WNMU in front, 2-1, after four.


Jessica Brink took over for NMHU from that point on, both in the circle and at the plate. She hit a solo home run in the fifth to tie the game and then delivered a two-run double to right in the sixth giving the Cowgirls a 4-2 lead.


The Lady Mustangs would get a runner on in the seventh as Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) reached on a hit-by-pitch, but she would remain at first with NMHU coming away with the victory.


NMHU outhit WNMU, 7-5, while WNMU committed three errors. The three errors led to three unearned runs scored for the Cowgirls. Othon tallied two hits to lead WNMU, while Brittany Potter and Brink tallied two hits apiece to lead NMHU. In the circle, Shone went all seven innings, giving up just one earned run and took the loss (5-7). Brink went the distance for NMHU, moving to 7-8 on the season, giving up two earned runs.


In the second game, WNMU's offense came to life.


NMHU posted the first run in the top of the first, which WNMU countered with a run in the home half. After Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) and Gahn walked, Fanning singled up the middle to tie the game at one after one.


The Cowgirls regained the lead with another run in the third, but each time WNMU had an answer.


The Lady Mustangs opened the third with a four-pitch walk to Gahn. After a strikeout, Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) ripped a double to deep left-center to score Gahn to tie the game. WNMU wasn't done, as Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) cued a shot out to second that was misplayed allowing Othon to score for the 3-2 lead after three.


NMHU tied the game with a run in the fourth, but that would be the last tie thanks to a big home half of the fourth.


Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) opened the nine-run inning with a four-pitch walk. Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) followed with a single to center and Diaz added a perfectly placed bunt single to load the bases without an out. Gahn continued the hit parade with a single just past the pitcher to score Castillo for a 4-3 lead. Fanning walked on five pitches to score Higgins to boost the lead to two, 5-3. Othon hit a towering fly ball to left that went as a sacrifice fly driving Diaz home for a 6-3 lead. McDonald nearly cleared the bases with a deep drive to left that went to the fence and scored Gahn for a 7-3 lead. Gentry came off the bench and came through with a clutch pinch-hit double to right-center that scored all three base runners and moved the lead to 10-3. Higgins doubled in the next at-bat giving WNMU eight runs in the inning and the final run scored on an error by the second baseman for the 12-3 lead after four.


Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) came on in relief of BreAnna Eaker (Ramona, CA/James Madison) and tossed a 1-2-3 fifth inning to conclude the run-rule win.


Eight Lady Mustangs recorded at least a hit in the game, with Higgins the leading the way with two hits. Gentry led the team in RBI with three. In the circle, Eaker picked up her fourth win (4-4) of the season lasting four innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits.


WNMU outhit NMHU, 9-6, with NMHU committing all three errors.


WNMU and NMHU will conclude their four-game set with another doubleheader on Sunday morning beginning at 11 a.m. at the WNMU Softball Field.