Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DENVER, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University softball team came back from an opening game loss, 3-1, to Metro State University to defeat the Roadrunners, 5-4, in the second game to split a pair of games Friday in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


In the first game, Metro State University (MSU) jumped on Western New Mexico University (WNMU) early posting a pair of runs in the first inning on a two-run homer.


MSU (10-17, 3-12 RMAC) added another in the third to open a 3-0 lead.


WNMU (13-18, 10-10 RMAC) threatened in the fourth, with Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) singling and later tried to score on a double by Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School), but was gunned down at the plate.


In the seventh, the Lady Mustangs scored their only run with Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) opening the frame with a double to center. After a foul out, Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) doubled to right-center to score Othon to trim the deficit to two, 3-1. Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) followed with a walk, but MSU came back with a pair of outs to end the game and give the Roadrunners a 3-1 victory.


WNMU outhit MSU, 6-5, with Gahn and Gentry tallying two hits apiece. Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) pitched all six innings for WNMU and took the loss (6-10), giving up just one earned run.


In the nightcap, WNMU came through in the final inning to pull out the victory.


MSU opened the scoring with a run in the second when WNMU exploded for three in the third.


With one out, Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) started the inning with a walk. Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) added to that a single and later McDonald singled to right-center to score both runners after they moved up on a passed ball. Gentry drove in the third run with a single through the right side to score McDonald for a 3-1 lead through three.


The Roadrunners came back with a pair of runs in the fourth to tie the game at three. They would go ahead on a solo home run in the sixth for the 4-3 advantage.


With WNMU down to their final three outs in the seventh, the offense came to life. With one out, Enriquez helped ignite the offense again out of the nine-hole with a single up the middle. Higgins wasted no time doubling on the first pitch she saw to right-center to put runners at second and third. McDonald continued her solid hitting with a single to third on a 3-1 pitch that scored Enriquez to tie the game. Gahn put WNMU ahead for good with a single up the middle on the first pitch to plate Higgins for the 5-4 lead.


BreAnna Eaker (Ramona, CA/James Madison) stayed in the circle for the home half and kept MSU from scoring, as they posted just a single in the inning leading WNMU to the 5-4 win.


WNMU held the edge in hitting once again, 13-10, with eight players tallying at least one hit. Higgins and McDonald at the top of the lineup each went 3-for-4. McDonald led in RBI with three. Eaker picked up the win (7-5) giving up four earned runs.


WNMU and MSU will conclude their four-game series Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. with another doubleheader.