Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SILVER CITY, N.M. – Behind a strong eight innings from Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) and a clutch game-winning hit from Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School), the Western New Mexico University softball team came back to split with Colorado Mesa University Sunday. The Mavericks took the first game, 5-2, before The Lady Mustangs fought back for a 5-4 win in eight innings in the second game in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


In the first game, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) opened the scoring with an unearned run in the third.


Western New Mexico University (WNMU) answered back to take the lead in the fourth. Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) opened the frame with a solid single to right. Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) added a bunt single and Aimee Vasquez (Ruidoso, NM/Ruidoso High School) singled to second to load the bases. Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) capitalized hitting a shot into left-center to plate a pair of runs and give WNMU (14-23, 11-15 RMAC) a 2-1 lead.


CMU (18-11-1, 16-7-1 RMAC) came back with three in the fifth and would add another in the sixth to provide the final margin of 5-2. The Mavericks held the Lady Mustangs to one hit over the final three innings.


WNMU outhit CMU, 9-7, with Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) and Fanning accounting for two hits apiece. Enriquez led in RBI with two. Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) tossed 5.2 innings, giving up just two earned runs. BreAnna Eaker (Ramona, CA/James Madison) also pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two earned runs.


In the second game, CMU opened with three runs in the second for the early advantage.


In the home half of the inning, the Lady Mustangs responded with their own three runs. Gentry and Othon opened with singles. Following a fielder's choice out, Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) singled through the left side for an RBI. A strikeout marked the second out when Enriquez came through with a perfectly placed triple down into the right field corner that scored a pair and tied the game at three.


The Mavericks regained the lead with a run in the fifth, but just like the third, WNMU answered right back. This time, Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) went opposite field and tripled down into the right field corner. She would score on the next at-bat with Gentry singling to center to tie the game at four.


Both teams would then come close to going ahead, but no one could break through. WNMU had a chance to go ahead in the sixth, as they had runners at first and second with one out, but a strikeout and lineout ended the threat.


Same story in the seventh, with runners at first and second led to a fielder's choice out to end the threat.


In the eighth, after the Mavericks had a chance to go in front with a runner on second and left her stranded, WNMU put the game away in the home half.
With one out, Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) started the rally as she singled up the middle on a 0-2 pitch. Gahn followed with a walk and after a fielder's choice accounted for the second out, Othon doubled on the first pitch to right-center ending the game.


WNMU once again outhit CMU, 11-8, with Othon going 3-for-4 out of the fifth spot in the lineup. Enriquez tallied two RBI. Taynton went all eight innings in the circle for the victory (1-2), as she gave up just three earned runs and had 10 strikeouts.


WNMU improved to 3-0 in extra inning games this season.


After this weekend, WNMU is now in eighth in the conference tournament standings, just behind Chadron State (10-13) for seventh and ahead of Fort Lewis (9-15).


WNMU will now travel to Durango, Colo., this coming weekend for a pivotal matchup with Fort Lewis College beginning on Saturday with a doubleheader at 12 p.m.