Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHADRON, Neb. – A day after runs were scarce, runs were plentiful on Sunday. If a combined 14 runs in the first game weren't enough, the teams accounted for 31 in the nightcap as Chadron State College held on in both 8-6 and 16-15 to edge the Western New Mexico University softball team in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


After CSC (14-15, 11-7 RMAC) scored the first run in the opening inning, WNMU (10-27, 8-16 RMAC) countered with the next five and looked to be in position to take game one. In the top of the second, senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) hit a 1-1 pitch to center for a solo home run to tie the game. Still tied at one into the third, the Lady Mustangs erupted for four. Junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) doubled and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School). Higgins would later score on a wild pitch after a groundout marked the second out. The inning was far from over, with Gentry walking and sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) singling setting the table for senior Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) who delivered with a payoff pitch homer to center to push the lead to 5-1.


The Eagles had an answer, scoring six runs in the home half to take a 7-5 lead. Trailing by three, 8-5, into the seventh, WNMU tried to mount a comeback. Higgins opened with a homer on a 3-2 pitch to left to trim the deficit to two. Following a groundout, senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) singled and Gentry walked. A fielder's choice accounted for the second out. The game then appeared to be over, but a catcher's interference call on Fanning's at-bat allowed her to reach and load the bases. A groundout followed to end the threat and the first game.


CSC held a 10-9 advantage in hits as Higgins and senior Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) led the way with two hits each. Just like Saturday, seven Lady Mustangs had at least a hit. Fanning led in RBI with three. Kruger led the Eagles with three hits and four RBI. In the circle, sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) (8-13) started and pitched the first three innings for WNMU and allowed seven runs. Senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) came on in relief and allowed just one earned run over the final three innings. Phillips collected the win for CSC in relief as she limited WNMU to one earned run in 4.1 innings.


In the second game, hits were flying all over the field. The game featured just as many runs in 31 as combined hits. The Eagles were in control early, scoring five in the first, two more in the second and six in the third to take a 13-2 lead as WNMU plated two unearned runs in the second.


The Lady Mustang offense went to work in the fourth. After a fielder's choice left sophomore Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) on first, Higgins and McDonald delivered back-to-back singles with McDonald's hit scoring Enriquez. Gahn wasted little time loading the bases singling on the first pitch. After a wild pitch brought home Higgins, Gentry walked to re-load the bases. Othon drilled a double to left-center to score a pair of runs. Later in the inning, Fanning would drive in a run on a sacrifice fly and sophomore Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial), in to pinch-hit, drove in the last run of the frame with an infield single leaving WNMU down just five, 13-8.


WNMU would move to within four plating a run in the fifth as Othon walked with the bases loaded to bring in McDonald who singled to open the inning. The Eagles would come back with three in the home half to take a 16-9 lead to the sixth. The Lady Mustangs added another run in the inning when McDonald singled to left to score sophomore Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) as she singled to open the frame.


With the score still 16-10 heading into the seventh, WNMU nearly came all the way back. Fanning singled, freshman Linzy Ganger was hit-by-pitch and Castillo singled to open the inning. With the bases full of Lady Mustangs, freshman Kylie Christman (Litchfield Park, AZ/Millennium) entered as a pinch-hitter and doubled in a pair on a 2-0 pitch to leave the deficit at four. After a fly out, McDonald continued to drive in runs as she singled to left leaving the Eagles ahead by just three. The second out of the frame followed on a groundout, but WNMU still had some hits left as Gentry ripped a single to center to score two more and bring the Lady Mustangs to within a run at 16-15. CSC, though, would escape getting a fly out to end the game.


WNMU held a 21-10 advantage in hits as 10 Lady Mustangs had a hit. The game also witnessed 15 walks and seven errors. McDonald had four hits, while Higgins, Gahn and Castillo posted three hit games. McDonald and Othon led the way with three RBI. In the circle, seven pitchers saw action as WNMU used four. Shone tossed the most innings, as she was the last to pitch in the contest and logged 3.2 innings with just two earned runs. Freshman Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) added 1.2 innings, sophomore Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) and Taynton (2-11) added a third of an inning each. Grywusiewicz, who started for CSC, ended up with the win after lasting four innings.


WNMU will return home this coming week when they will face Colorado School of Mines in a four-game set beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. The Lady Mustangs will also be wearing pink in support of breast cancer awareness. Shirts will be sold at the games with all proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.