Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Western New Mexico University softball team concluded the Desert Stinger Sunday with Central Washington University coming away with the 5-0 victory.


WNMU (1-4) was even with CWU (5-0) in terms of hits with both coming away with eight, but the Wildcats produced three runs in the third and two more in the fifth to come away with the win.


The Lady Mustangs had a two out single by senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) in the first, but a ground out followed to end the inning. With the game still scoreless heading into the third, WNMU threatened with singles by sophomore Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) and senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) which had runners at the corners with two outs when a strikeout ended the frame. CWU then got on the board with three hits to tally three runs in the home half of the third for a 3-0 lead.


Senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) walked to begin the fourth and was later erased on a fielder's choice ground out by sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School). Senior Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) added a single and after another fielder's choice tallied an out at second, with runners at the corners and two outs, a strikeout ended the inning.


Junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) posted a double to left in the fifth, but was stranded after a ground out and pop out. The Wildcats would score two in the home half of the fifth to expand the lead to 5-0.


In the sixth, the Lady Mustangs again had traffic on the bases. Othon started the frame with a one out double and after Fanning walked, senior Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) singled up the middle to load the bases. A pop out and strikeout followed to end the inning.


In the seventh, Gahn recorded a single, but that would be the only hit in the inning.


Seven Lady Mustangs had at least one hit with Gahn posting two. Sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) (1-2) and senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) each tallied innings in the circle with Shone lasting 4.1 innings, giving up five earned runs, along with four strikeouts. Taynton pitched the final 1.2 innings, giving up just one hit and one walk.


WNMU will remain on the road this week when they will travel to St. George, Utah to play Dixie State with a pair of doubleheaders on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. and then on Saturday at 12 p.m.