Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team had a repeat performance of Saturday, as on Sunday they took the opening game over Adams State with a walk-off 2-1 victory and later dropped a close 4-3 decision in eight innings in the second game in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


By splitting and Chadron State losing both games at Colorado Mesa, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) clinched the eighth and final spot in the RMAC Tournament that begins this coming Thursday at top seed and host Colorado School of Mines.
In the first game, it was a pitcher's duel between Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) and Michelle Leyba.


Adams State University (ASU) opened the scoring with a run in the third and the score would remain 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth. WNMU (19-30, 16-22 RMAC) opened the inning with a single to center by senior Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School). Shone then reached on a sacrifice that turned into an error by the pitcher. On the play, Vasquez moved all the way to third. The next batter, Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School), delivered the key sacrifice fly to center that plated Vasquez and tied the game at one.


After ASU (20-16, 19-12 RMAC) left the go-ahead run at third in the top of the seventh, the Lady Mustangs sealed the victory with a run in the home half.


Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) walked to start the frame and yet another sacrifice bunt turned into an error by the pitcher when Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) laid down a bunt that was misplayed putting runners on first and third as pinch-runner Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) advanced two bases on the play. Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) wasted little time coming through singling to right to score Enriquez with the game-winning run.


ASU outhit WNMU, 8-4, while the Grizzlies committed both errors that led to both WNMU runs. Four Lady Mustangs accounted for the four hits, with Higgins and Fanning collecting RBI. Shone tossed all seven innings for yet another victory (11-13), as she allowed just one earned run, no walks and three strikeouts.


In the second game, the Grizzlies scored the first two runs with a run in the first and third for a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, WNMU pushed across their first run of the game when Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) and Enriquez executed a steal of second and home with Enriquez crossing the plate to trim the deficit to one.


Fanning opened the sixth with a home run to tie the game at two.


The game would end up going into extra innings and ASU wasted little time scoring two in the top of the eighth for the 4-2 lead.


The Lady Mustangs made things interesting in the home half as Fanning, Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) and Vasquez all singled following a groundout to load the bases. Enriquez brought one home with a lineout to left for a sacrifice fly. The Grizzlies worked out of the jam as following an error that re-loaded the bases, a fly out to right ended the game and gave ASU the 4-3 win.


The teams combined for 21 hits with WNMU accounting for 11. Fanning led the way with three hits, while Enriquez added two. Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School) started the game in the circle on senior day and threw 2.1 innings, giving up just two earned runs. Amber Tayton came on in relief and tossed 5.1 innings and allowed two earned runs to be saddled with the loss (1-4). Shone pitched the final .1 inning to end the eighth.

Seniors Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) and Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA/Yosemite High School) were honored between games as they played their final home games at WNMU Sunday.

WNMU will now travel to Golden, Colo., to face top seed and host Colorado School of Mines Thursday at 1 p.m. Also making the double elimination field is #2 Colorado Mesa, #3 Colorado Christian, #4 CSU-Pueblo, #5 Adams State, #6 UCCS and #7 Fort Lewis.