LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Behind a pair of complete game pitching performances from both sophomore Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) and senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan), the Western New Mexico University softball team rolled to a doubleheader sweep against New Mexico Highlands, 3-0 and 11-2, Friday in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.

In the opener, Shone and Jessica Brink locked in a pitcher's duel through the first five innings with both teams unable to score.

In the sixth, senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) triggered the inning with a one-out single. Senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) doubled up the middle to put runners on second and third. Senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) then tallied a sacrifice fly on a dropped fly ball that ended up brining in both runners for a 2-0 lead. A pair of singles followed to jump the lead to 3-0 with sophomore Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) and senior Tessa Fanning (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union) tallying base hits with Fanning's hit brining in redshirt freshman pinch-runner Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City).

That would be all that Shone needed, as she capped the final two frames with 1-2-3 innings that included three strikeouts.

WNMU (14-33, 12-22 RMAC) held an 8-5 edge in hits with McDonald recording two hits. Shone (10-15) picked up her third shutout victory of the season tossing seven innings and posting four strikeouts without a walk.

The offense then exploded in the nightcap to back Taynton's complete game effort.

The Lady Mustangs broke through first as McDonald doubled and after moving to third on a passed ball, scored on a two-out single by Gentry for the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

The Cowgirls (11-33, 7-24 RMAC) would tie the game in the bottom of the second. That would end up being the last tie of the contest after WNMU went ahead for good in the third. Junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) and McDonald opened the frame with singles. After a pair of fielder's choice plays in which one recorded an out, the other loaded the bases for Othon who hit a sacrifice fly to right to score McDonald for the 2-1 lead.

The fourth inning would be where the Lady Mustangs put the game away. Six runs would come across in the inning on five hits. Freshman Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) led off with a walk. Junior Alexis Lawton (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) singled and sophomore Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) added a bunt single to load the bases. Following an out, McDonald continued her solid afternoon with a two-run single down the left field line. A pop out marked the second out. A dropped fly ball followed on a ball put in play by Gentry that brought in two runs. Othon and sophomore Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) posted a few more unearned runs on RBI doubles to close the inning and give WNMU a commanding 8-1 lead.

The Lady Mustangs closed the scoring in the seventh after NMHU tallied a run in the sixth. Munoz singled on the first pitch to kick off the inning. After an error had runners at the corners, Enriquez singled to left to plate pinch-runners Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and freshman Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo). Enriquez would end up scoring on the play as the ball was misplayed by the left fielder to score the third and final run of the inning.

NMHU was held to five hits again while WNMU pounded out 13. McDonald ripped off a 4-for-5 game batting second with three runs scored and two RBI. McDonald leads the team in multi-hit games with 19 and is the only player to reach four hits in a game this season which she has done twice. Munoz added a 3-for-4 game batting sixth.

Taynton (4-15) went all seven innings, allowing just one earned run and added five strikeouts.

WNMU and NMHU will wrap up their four-game set Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. with another doubleheader.