SILVER CITY, N.M. – A four-game home set awaits the Western New Mexico University softball team this weekend when they will host UC-Colorado Springs in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


UCCS (8-8, 6-5 RMAC) has won four straight after sweeping Black Hills State this past weekend. Jessica Belsterling has led the way both in the circle and at the dish. She leads the team with a .404 batting average, 21 RBI and is tied for the team lead in home runs with two. In the circle, she leads the team in wins (4) and is second in ERA (4.16). Korey Kulpins has added three wins in the circle, along with a 4.00 ERA and 49 innings pitched.


WNMU (8-21, 6-10 RMAC) split this past weekend defeating Regis the first day, 9-0 and then Metro State the second day, 5-4. They had a close loss against the Rangers, 3-2, and fell to the Roadrunners the first day, 12-0.


Senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) leads the team with a .345 batting average and has added 13 RBI. Senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) has a .327 batting average along with three home runs and 15 RBI. Senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) leads the team in both home runs (4) and RBI (20) and holds a .326 batting average. In the circle, sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) leads the team in ERA (5.05), wins (7), complete games (11) and innings pitched (104). Senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) has added 52.1 innings and has both a win and a save this season, along with six complete games.


Last year, the Lady Mustangs split two games against the Mountain Lions during RMAC Pod play winning the first game (10-6), but fell in the second contest (8-0).
As far as individual rankings in the RMAC, McDonald is second in hits (33), Gahn is third in hits (31), junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) is second in doubles (10), sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) is third in doubles (9), Shone is first in innings pitched (104), third in batters struck out (46), and first in wins (7).


WNMU and UCCS will open their series with a doubleheader Saturday at 12 p.m. They will play another doubleheader on Sunday at 11 a.m.