Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SILVER CITY, N.M. – UC-Colorado Springs utilized 26 runs on Saturday to take a pair from the Western New Mexico University softball team, 13-0 (5), and 13-4 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


UCCS (10-8, 8-5 RMAC) scored the first two runs in the opening frame of game one. They would continue with the pressure adding a run in the third before tallying 10 combined in the fourth and fifth for the 13-0 victory.


WNMU (8-23, 6-12 RMAC) had a hit in each of the first three innings, but couldn't bring a run home.


The Mountain Lions held a 13-4 edge in hits as junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School), batting leadoff, led the way with a 2-for-3 day. Dani Fonseca powered UCCS with a 4-for-4 day and six RBI. In the circle, sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) (7-11) tossed the first 4.1 innings, while sophomore Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) threw the final two-thirds. Korey Kulpins (4-3) collected the win for UCCS after posting a five inning shutout.


In the second game, the Mountain Lions broke through first with a run in the first inning. It would be a pitcher's duel over the first four innings between senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) and Jessica Belsterling.


The 1-0 lead would hold until the bottom of the third when the Lady Mustangs parlayed two hits into a run. Sophomore Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) jump started the inning with a single back to the pitcher. After a sacrifice moved her to second, senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) delivered the clutch two-out double to left field to plate Castillo and leave the game tied at one.


With the game still tied at one in the fifth, UCCS moved in front for good collecting seven runs (four unearned) to open an 8-1 lead. The Lady Mustangs came fighting right back in the home half. Redshirt freshman Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) laid down a bunt single and would move to second on a four-pitch walk to Castillo. Higgins drilled a single up the middle to quickly load the bases without an out. Senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) added an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center and Gahn would follow with an RBI single leaving WNMU down five, 8-3.


That would end up being as close as they would get with the Mountain Lions plating five in the seventh to eventually take the 13-4 win.


UCCS held a 14-9 advantage in hits, as Gahn collected a three hit game and two RBI. Jourdan Hitchings had four hits batting leadoff for UCCS, along with four steals. In the circle, senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) (1-9) went the distance for the Lady Mustangs, while Belsterling (5-2) added her own complete game for the Mountain Lions.


UCCS and WNMU will conclude their series Sunday morning with another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.