LUBBOCK, Texas – The Western New Mexico University softball team opened the 2015 season Friday. Mid America Nazarene took the first game, 9-4, before Lubbock Christian cliamed the second game in five innings, 10-1.

In the first game of the season, WNMU was tied with Mid America Nazarene until the final two innings when the Lady Pioneers plated eight to take the win. Trailing 1-0 in the fifth, Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) helped ignite the frame for the Lady Mustangs with a leadoff double to left-center. After Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) advanced her to third on a sacrifice bunt, Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) delivered an RBI with a sacrifice fly to right to score Granger and tie the game at one.

Mid America Nazarene came through with two runs in the sixth and then six in the seventh to open a 9-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Lady Mustangs didn't go down quietly, as Enriquez and Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) singled in front of a double to left-center off the bat of Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) that scored both runners. Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) cashed in the third run of the inning with a double to right that plated Higgins and provided the final score of 9-4.

WNMU ended up out hitting the Lady Pioneers, 10-9, as five Lady Mustangs had at least a hit. Ramirez recorded a three hit game going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Enriquez, Castillo and Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tallied two hit games, with Enriquez posting an RBI and Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) with a double. Higgins added the other hit, a double that scored two runs.

Four Lady Mustangs saw action in the circle with MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) logging six innings and allowing five earned runs. Chantel Purcella (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque), Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) and Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) also tossed during the final inning.

Madison McKay led the Lady Pioneers with three RBI and a pair of hits. Hayley Gately and Kaity Wills added two RBI apiece.

In the second game, Lubbock Christian started early with three runs over the first two innings to open a 3-0 lead.

In the third, WNMU broke through with a run as Enriquez doubled to center to begin the inning. She then came home on a single up the middle by Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) to make it a 3-1 contest.

The Lady Chaps then exploded in the fourth inning behind a grand slam and two-run homer to tally seven runs and take a 10-1 lead. They would end up keeping the Lady Mustangs from scoring in the fifth to record the 10-1 run-rule victory.

WNMU had five hits with Enriquez going 2-for-2 with a double. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Higgins and Ramirez added the other hits.

Austin tossed all four innings in the circle for WNMU and allowed eight earned runs, along with three strikeouts.

Katera Eltsosie led Lubbock Christian with four RBI in hitting the grand slam, her only hit of the game. Molly Davison added the other home run, to go along with three RBI. Courtney McGee got the win in the circle going four innings.

WNMU will play the same two teams on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Central Time against Mid America Nazarene, before concluding the day with a 2 p.m. game versus Lubbock Christian.