LAS VEGAS, N.M. – With Easter coming up this Sunday, games will be played this Friday and Saturday between the Western New Mexico University softball team and in-state rival New Mexico Highlands University.

NMHU (11-31, 7-22 RMAC) is currently on a 12-game losing streak following a pair of losses at top-ranked West Texas A&M this past Tuesday (28-2, 8-0). This past weekend, the Cowgirls played at Chadron State. Six Cowgirls are hitting over .300 in the regular lineup led by a .363 average by Jacquelyn Wood. Dekota Monarrez holds a .312 average, but leads the team in home runs (11) and RBI (38). In the circle, Wood had tossed 91.1 innings, along with a 5.90 ERA and six wins. Jessica Brink has added five wins and a 6.49 ERA in 118.2 innings.

WNMU (12-33, 10-22 RMAC) will look to snap a four-game slide after Colorado Mesa swept all four in Grand Junction last weekend. Seven Lady Mustangs in the regular lineup are batting over .300. Senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) leads the way with a .353 average, eight doubles, two triples and also has six home runs and 29 RBI. Senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) is hitting .346 with two home runs, eight doubles and 27 RBI. Senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) is right behind with a .344 average, she has seven home runs, eight doubles and 32 RBI. Sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) posts a .336 average, while slugging seven home runs as well to tie Gahn for the team lead, 11 doubles and 25 RBI. Junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) is at .329 with a team-high 13 doubles, a home run, 17 RBI and is tied with McDonald for the team-high in triples with two. Sophomore Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) rounds out the group over .300 with a .307 average, along with seven RBI. Freshman Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) has a .304 average off the bench and eight RBI.

In the circle, sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) has seen action in 157.1 innings, 31 total appearances, 23 games started, 14 complete games and has nine wins with a 5.47 ERA. Senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) is next in innings tossed with 93 in 24 appearances, 19 games started, nine complete games and has tallied three wins and a 6.77 ERA. Sophomore Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) has pitched 19 innings and freshman Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) has 13 innings.

WNMU took three-of-four in the series last year in Silver City.

WNMU and NMHU will open a four-game set with a doubleheader Friday beginning at 12 p.m. Live stats will be available for the series.