Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team ended up outhitting Colorado Christian University by one in the doubleheader Sunday, but the Cougars came away with the sweep taking game one, 8-6, and game two, 8-2, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


In the opening game, WNMU (3-14, 1-3 RMAC) mounted an early 3-0 lead after the first two frames. In the first, senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) tripled to left and then came home on a sacrifice fly by senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School). The lead moved to 3-0 in the second as senior Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) smashed a two-run homer to center to score sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) who opened the inning with a single.


After CCU (7-8, 3-1 RMAC) got on the board with two in the third, the Lady Mustangs quickly answered back in the home half. With two outs and no one on, the rally started with a four-pitch walk to senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School). Othon added a single and a Fanning single loaded the bases. Senior Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) worked the count to 2-2 when she drilled a single to right to plate both Gentry and Othon for a 5-2 advantage.


The Cougars would fight their way back into the game with a run in the fifth and then take the lead with four in the sixth for a 7-5 edge.


Diaz helped trim the deficit to one as her RBI double on another 2-2 pitch in the bottom of the sixth scored freshman Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), who pinch-ran for Fanning as she walked to open the frame.


CCU would add another run in the seventh to go in front 8-6. WNMU threatened in their last turn at-bat, with Gahn posting a single and later an error with two outs kept the game alive before a fly out ended the game.


WNMU outhit CCU, 10-9, with Diaz leading the way going 3-for-3 and had three RBI. Othon and Fanning also added two hit games. In the circle, sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) (3-7) went the distance, allowing six earned runs and had one walk.


In the second game, CCU jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with a run in the first and then four in the second.


WNMU got on the board in the fourth with Gahn, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning, scoring on a fielding error to make it a 5-1 game. The deficit was cut to three in the fifth, as a two out triple on an 0-2 pitch by McDonald brought home junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) who walked in the previous at-bat to leave CCU in front, 5-2.


The Cougars kept the offense coming tallying three more runs in the sixth to open an 8-2 lead.


The Lady Mustangs would get a hit each in the sixth and seventh, but the game would end with the Cougars coming away with the 8-2 victory.


Each team posted six hits, as McDonald and sophomore Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) led the way with two hits apiece. WNMU used three pitchers in the nightcap, as senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan), sophomore Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) and Shone saw action.


WNMU will hit the road this coming weekend when they travel to Durango to play in an RMAC Pod against Fort Lewis and Adams State both Saturday and Sunday.