Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BLOOMFIELD, N.M. – The offense racked up 25 hits to lead the Western New Mexico University softball team to a split in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Pod play defeating Fort Lewis College, 8-4, before falling in 10 innings to Adams State University, 8-7, Saturday with the games played at Bloomfield High School.


The offensive explosion started right away in the opener against FLC (6-9, 2-4 RMAC). The first inning looked to be a 1-2-3 affair following a pair of groundouts. Then, the bats came to life after senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) walked, senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) singled and sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) worked a walk to load the bases. Senior Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) singled to center on a 2-2 pitch to plate Gahn. Freshman Kylie Christman (Litchfield Park, AZ/Millennium) added a single to right on a 2-2 pitch to score both Othon and Gentry for a 3-0 lead. Sophomores Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) and Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) added back-to-back hits, with Castillo's single scoring Diaz with the fourth run of the frame.


The Skyhawks would post a run in the third, just to watch WNMU (4-15, 2-4 RMAC) go back to work on offense in the fourth. The inning started just like the first with a pair of outs recorded right away. Gahn triggered the rally once again as she singled on a full count pitch. Gentry singled on the next pitch in front of Othon who smashed a three-run shot to open a 7-1 lead.


FLC answered with three in the home half making it a 7-4 game after four. The Lady Mustangs closed the scoring in the fifth as Gahn collected a sacrifice fly to score Castillo who singled earlier in the inning.


WNMU pounded out 15 hits to just five for FLC. Senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) led the way with three hits, while freshman Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Gentry, Othon and Castillo had two hits apiece. Othon had three RBI. Sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) (4-7) went all seven innings to pick up the victory, as she allowed just two earned runs.


The second game against ASU (7-9, 5-1 RMAC) looked to be heading the Lady Mustangs' way, but a late rally by the Grizzlies forced extra innings and a walk-off home run in the tenth.


WNMU broke open the scoring in the second. Othon, and sophomore Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) opened the inning with singles. After a fielder's choice out and a fly out, Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) singled on a 2-2 pitch to left to drive in Munoz. A single by freshman Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) loaded the bases for McDonald, who walked on a 3-1 pitch to score senior Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) and take a 2-0 lead.


The Grizzlies came back with a run in the third and then three in the fourth to open a 4-2 lead.


The Lady Mustangs took control in the sixth with a five-hit, five-run barrage. Gentry, and Othon singled, before Munoz walked to load the bases. Junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) came in to pinch-hit and singled up the middle on a 2-2 pitch to score pinch-runner Enriquez. After a fielder's choice out, Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) doubled on a 1-2 pitch to right-center to plate both Higgins and freshman pinch-runner Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad). Following a walk to Diaz and a strikeout, Gahn came through with a two-out double to right-center to bring in junior Alexis Lawton (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) and Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) to open a 7-4 lead.


ASU tallied a run in the home half of the sixth and then rallied in the seventh, plating a pair of runs on a two-run homer to send the game to extras.


Following scoreless eighth and ninth innings, Erika Ecsedy hit a solo home run for the Grizzlies in the tenth inning to come away with the 8-7 victory.


ASU outhit WNMU, 13-10, with Othon and Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) adding two hits apiece. Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) accounted for three RBI. In the circle, senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) (0-5) went all 9.2 innings to end up with the hard-luck loss. The right-hander allowed six earned runs and had 10 strikeouts.

WNMU will play both Fort Lewis and Adams State on Monday, beginning first with the Skyhawks at 10 a.m. and then against the Grizzlies at 12 p.m.