Box Score 1 LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University softball team had the offense rolling coming away with 31 hits as the Lady Mustangs won the first game over the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, 10-6, before Colorado Christian University came back with an 11-6 win in the nightcap in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference pod play action on Saturday afternoon.


For the third time this season, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) pounded out 15 hits, having also tallied that many against St. Cloud State and Midwestern State. WNMU (17-26, 14-18 RMAC) was the home team in the neutral site matchup against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS), where the Lady Mustangs scored in four of the six innings.


UCCS (22-14-1, 17-10 RMAC) scored a pair of runs in the first inning for an early 2-0 lead.


WNMU came back with three in the home half and never looked back. Following an out, Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) and Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) reached via singles before Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) walked to load the bases. A fielder's choice groundout by Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) scored McDonald in front of a double by Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) to right to score a pair and give WNMU the 3-2 lead.


Two more scored in the second when Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) came home on a single by Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) and a fielding error by the right fielder and Gahn doubled to right on a 1-0 pitch to plate Higgins and put WNMU ahead, 5-2.


The Mountain Lions would claw their way back to within a run thanks to two in the fourth, but the WNMU offense was still clicking. In the home half of the frame, Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) opened with a single and after two outs were quickly recorded, McDonald singled to score Vasquez. After a Gahn single, Gentry ripped a shot to left for another RBI as McDonald came home. The final two runs came home on a single by Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) to right to push the lead to five, 9-4.


UCCS would score their final two in the sixth, in which WNMU added their final run in the home half when Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) doubled down the right field line to score Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) and provide the final margin of 10-6.


Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) got UCCS in order in the seventh to finish off the win. Shone improved her record to 9-12 after going all seven inning and allowing just three earned runs on nine hits.


All nine starting Lady Mustangs had a hit, with Gahn leading the way with a 3-for-4 day. Higgins, McDonald, Othon and Vasquez all had two hits apiece. Othon led the team in RBI with three.


In the second game against Colorado Christian University (CCU), WNMU set a season-high in hits with 16 as the bats remained hot and the Lady Mustangs even outhit the Cougars by two, but it wouldn't be enough.


CCU (21-19, 17-9 RMAC) got off to a strong start scoring two in the first and five more in the third to open a 7-0 lead after three.


WNMU responded in the fourth. With Gentry and Fanning on the corners after reaching with singles with one out, Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) poked a shot to left to plate Gentry. After the second out was recorded, Enriquez hit a double to left to score both Fanning and Munoz to bring WNMU within four, 7-3.


Another Lady Mustang run scored in the fifth with Fanning singling with two outs to score Gentry who reached on a full-count walk earlier in the frame to make it a 7-4 contest.


CCU came back in the home half with four of their own to jump the lead back to 11-4 after five.


WNMU still had some runs left in them, as the final two runs of the game came home in the sixth. Higgins drove in the first run singling to center on the first pitch to score Vasquez who doubled to open the frame. Later, Higgins would score on an error by the pitcher on a ball put in play by Othon to provide the final margin of 11-6.


Enriquez led the offense going 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the team in both categories. Higgins, McDonald, Gentry, Fanning, Munoz and Vasquez all pounded out two hits each.


BreAnna Eaker (Ramona, CA/James Madison) started and ended up with the loss (7-10) lasting two innings and giving up three earned runs. Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) tossed an inning allowing four earned, while Shone also pitched in the second game throwing three innings and allowed three earned.


WNMU will conclude the three-team pod play on Sunday as they open the doubleheader against Colorado Christian at 10 a.m. and will face UCCS at 12 p.m.