Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHADRON, Neb. – With runs at a premium, the Western New Mexico University softball team scored eight runs to split against Chadron State College Saturday, as the Eagles grabbed game one with a late comeback, 4-3, and then the Lady Mustangs answered back with a 5-3 win in the nightcap in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


With winds gusting throughout, WNMU (10-25, 8-14 RMAC) pounded out 12 hits in the first game, but left 11 on base. Sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School), who ended up accounting for all three runs batted in, began her big first game drilling a two-run homer to right-center in the third to break open the scoring, as senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) also scored after she singled.


CSC (12-16, 9-7 RMAC) posted their first run in the home half, but the Lady Mustangs would get the run back in the fifth. Senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School), Gentry and Othon all singled to begin the frame with Othon's single to right field bringing in Gahn for a 3-1 lead.


The Eagles delivered two in the home half and what would be the go-ahead run in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. Kylie Polsley (8-5), who threw 169 pitches for CSC, held WNMU off the board in the seventh with a 1-2-3 inning and claim the one-run victory.


WNMU held a 12-5 advantage in hits as seven Lady Mustangs had at least a hit. Othon had three hits and three RBI, while junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School), Gahn, and Gentry had two hits apiece. Sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) started the game, lasting 4.2 innings allowing three earned runs. Senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) (2-10) came on in relief and pitched the final 1.1 innings, tallying the loss despite allowing one unearned run.


In the second game, the offense nearly recorded double-digits in hits again with nine coming away with the split. WNMU started right away, as Gentry cashed in a leadoff walk to Higgins with a two-out single up the middle for the 1-0 lead after one.


The Eagles came back with a pair of unearned runs in the second for what would be their only lead of the game at 2-1. The Lady Mustangs went ahead for good in the third. Senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) beat out a near double play to keep the inning alive just in time for Gahn to connect on a two-run shot to left to push WNMU ahead, 3-2.


The lead expanded to two in the fourth when freshman Kylie Christman (Litchfield Park, AZ/Millennium) singled up the middle to plate Othon who singled to open the inning. CSC would get as close as a run at 4-3 after scoring in the fifth, but an insurance run in the sixth helped provide the final score of 5-3. Higgins delivered the RBI in the sixth, as her single up the middle brought in freshman pinch-runner Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), who came in to run for senior Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) after she singled to open the frame. Shone shut the door in the circle, collecting a 1-2-3 sixth and after the Eagles had the tying runs on with two outs in the seventh, a groundout to McDonald at shortstop ended the game.


WNMU held a slight 9-8 edge in hits, as once again seven Lady Mustangs had at least a hit. Othon and Fanning posted two-hit games. Taynton started and lasted four innings to pick up the win as she allowed just two unearned runs. Shone came on in relief for her first save of the season tossing the final three innings and giving up just one earned run.


WNMU and CSC will wrap up their four-game set Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.