Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team rebounded from Saturday with a 7-3 victory in the first game against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. The teams would go back-and-forth in the second game before the Mountain Lions plated the final run in the seventh to take the 9-8 victory to split the doubleheader Sunday in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


The first game was close early on with WNMU (9-24, 7-13 RMAC) scoring the first run in the second as senior Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) singled home senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) who walked for the 1-0 lead.


The Lady Mustangs then broke open the one-run game in the fourth. Senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) singled, just before a double by Gentry. After a pair of outs were recorded, senior Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) walked to load the bases. Junior Alexis Lawton (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) entered as a pinch-hitter and ripped a 1-2 pitch to right for a single to score Gahn. Freshman Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) followed, also as a pinch-hitter, and hit a grounder to the shortstop that was mishandled to score Gentry. Junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) delivered the biggest blow as she took the first pitch and tripled just out of the reach of the right fielder to clear the bases and give WNMU a commanding 6-0 lead.


UCCS (11-9, 9-6 RMAC) would come back with three in the fifth, but that would be all as senior Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) added the last run of the game in the home half with an RBI single to right to score redshirt freshman pinch-runner Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City).


Hits were nearly even, with WNMU holding a slight 9-8 advantage. Gahn and sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) led the team with two hits apiece, while Higgins drove in a game-high three RBI. In the circle, sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) tossed another complete game giving up just one earned run. Korey Kulpins ended up with the loss for UCCS, as she allowed just two earned runs.


The second game witnessed both offenses clicking to the tune of 31 combined hits. There was a run scored in all seven innings.


The Mountain Lions opened the scoring with a run in the first. In the home half the Lady Mustangs quickly took the lead. Senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) and Gahn singled and came home on a ringing double to right-center off the bat of Gentry for the 2-1 lead.


UCCS would regain the lead with two in the second, just to watch WNMU answer right back. Sophomore Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) reached on a one-out single. After a groundout moved her to second, McDonald connected on a 1-2 pitch and hit a towering shot down the left field line for a two-run homer and 4-3 lead.


The Mountain Lions would make it three straight innings with a run as they tied the game in the top of the third. It would remain that way into the fourth. Higgins opened with a single on a 0-2 pitch. McDonald then tried to advance her on a sacrifice bunt, but reached on an error to put runners at first and second. Gahn would walk to load the bases for Gentry. Gentry added another pair of RBI to her four RBI game as she grooved a shot to left field on a 1-2 pitch to plate two and push WNMU in front, 6-4.


Othon made it a three-run lead with a solo home run to open the fifth. UCCS would come back in the top of the sixth, plating four runs to regain the lead at 8-7 heading into the home half. Fanning hit the first pitch she saw for a double to left-center to kick off the frame. Following a pair of outs, Othon battled fouling off several pitches before hitting a shot back through the box that just got past the second baseman and scored freshman pinch-runner Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) to tie the game at eight.


The Mountain Lions would convert a bunt single and stolen base into a run in the seventh taking a 9-8 lead. The Lady Mustangs would end up going down in order to end the back-and-forth affair.


UCCS held a 16-15 advantage in hits, with McDonald and Othon collecting three hit games. Gentry led the way with four RBI. Three Mountain Lions tallied three hit games as well. In the circle, five pitchers would be used with Kulpins (5-4) ending up with the win for UCCS as she pitched the final two innings and allowed one earned run. For the Lady Mustangs, Shone (8-12) relieved senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) after she pitched 2.1 innings and ended up with the loss after allowing five earned runs in 4.2 innings of work.


WNMU will hit the road this coming week as they will make the long trek to Chadron, Neb., to face Chadron State for a pair of doubleheaders beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday.