Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team took three of four from New Mexico Highlands following a sweep Sunday as the Lady Mustangs rolled to wins of 4-1 and 13-4 in five innings in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at a windy WNMU Softball Field.


In the first game, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first. After the first two outs were recorded, Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) singled to center, which Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) drove her home with a full-count drive to left field that went for a double and a 1-0 lead.


WNMU (11-14, 8-6 RMAC) added two more in the third. Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) singled and Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) walked to open the frame. Gahn then hit one up the middle that was mishandled by the shortstop resulting in an error that allowed Higgins to score from second. Fanning came through with a single up the middle in the ensuing at-bat to score Diaz for the 3-0 lead after three.


The Lady Mustangs built a 4-0 lead with an additional run in the sixth with Higgins coming through with a two out single to score pinch-runner Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City).


NMHU (10-18, 3-12-1) posted a run in the seventh, but BreAnna Eaker (Ramona, CA/James Madison) shut the Cowgirls down after that to collect the victory.


Each team recorded eight hits, with Higgins and Fanning leading WNMU with two hits apiece. Fanning led in RBI with two. In the circle, Eaker went all seven innings for the win (5-4). She allowed just one earned run.


In the second game, the Lady Mustangs broke through with a pair of runs in the opening inning. Gahn posted a one out single to right, which Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) added to that a single through the left side. Fanning brought home Gahn with a single to left for the early 1-0 lead. After a groundout, the Cowgirls committed a throwing error as the catcher missed on her throw back to the pitcher which allowed Gentry to score for the 2-0 lead.


NMHU scored a pair of unearned runs in the second to tie the game at two. WNMU answered with a run in the home half as Gahn singled to left to score Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) who walked earlier in the inning for the 3-2 lead after two.


WNMU boosted the lead to 4-2 in the fourth with an RBI double to left-center from Higgins to plate Munoz who opened the inning with a single.


The Cowgirls came through with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth to tie the game back up at four.


Similar to the second game Saturday, the WNMU offense had another big nine-run inning in the home half of the fifth.


The Lady Mustangs got the inning going with Fanning being hit-by-pitch. Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) followed with a single to left and after a fielder's choice put runners at the corners, Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) singled to right-center that just got over the second baseman's head to plate Fanning. After Munoz walked to load the bases, Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) pinch-hit and singled right up the middle for two RBI. A groundout followed for the second out, but WNMU was far from ending the inning. Gahn continued her solid game with a perfectly placed double just inside the left field line for two RBI. Gentry singled and Fanning walked to reload the bases for Othon. She was hit by a 1-0 pitch to bring home Gahn for a 10-4 lead. Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) then ended the contest early, as she connected on a 0-1 pitch and drove it into deep right that cleared the bases and gave the Lady Mustangs a 13-4 victory.


WNMU outhit NMHU, 13-6, with nine Lady Mustangs tallying at least one hit, as Gahn had three, along with three RBI. McDonald also recorded three RBI. Munoz had three runs scored.


In the circle, Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) went the distance for the win (6-7), giving up four unearned runs. She also had four strikeouts without a walk.


WNMU will remain at home this coming weekend as they will host CSU-Pueblo beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. at the WNMU Softball Field. The ThunderWolves (15-5, 12-3 RMAC) swept Black Hills State this past weekend and have won six straight overall.