SILVER CITY, N.M. – Behind home runs and solid pitching, the Western New Mexico University softball team took two from Fort Lewis College Saturday winning the first, 8-4, before claiming the sweep with a 5-2 win in game two in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action. The two wins now gives WNMU six straight wins.
In the first game, WNMU (10-11, 7-3 RMAC) used the long ball with five round trippers to claim the victory. After FLC (6-11, 4-2 RMAC) opened the game with two runs in both the first and second innings for a 4-0 lead,
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and the Lady Mustangs would keep the Lady Skyhawks scoreless the final five innings.
In the meantime, the Lady Mustangs began to hit home run after home run. In the second,
Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) began what would be a three homer game drilling her first to left field on a 1-2 pitch leaving it 4-1 FLC after two.
In the fifth with two outs,
Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) dialed long distance with a shot to left field to cut the deficit to two, 4-2, after five. Munoz helped bring the Lady Mustangs a run closer in the sixth with a solo home run to left leaving FLC ahead 4-3 heading into the seventh.
WNMU then came to bat in the seventh and never made an out with the first five batters reaching base.
Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) led off and tied the game with a solo HR to left. Singles followed from Higgins,
Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and
Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) to load the bases for Munoz. Munoz got behind 0-2 before connecting on a grand slam to left field to give the Lady Mustangs the walk-off 8-4 victory.
Each team recorded 13 hits with Munoz and
Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) posting three hits apiece. Higgins and Ramirez collected two hits apiece. Munoz knocked in six RBI. Adrianna Rosthenhausler went 4-for-4 for FLC. FLC left 11 runners on base.
In the circle,
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) went all seven innings for the win (4-4) allowing four earned runs along with a pair of strikeouts. Victoria Johnson went all six innings for the Lady Skyhawks giving up eight earned runs.
In the second game, behind the strong pitching of
Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) and one big inning, WNMU would go on to collect the sweep. After FLC scored first in the opening inning, it would remain 1-0 into the fourth.
The Lady Mustangs would score all of their runs in the fourth and it looked like it was going to be a quick 1-2-3 inning with the first two batters getting out.
Kymbra Espinosa (Capitan, NM/Capitan ) then battled back from 0-2 to single up the middle. Her hit would ignite a five run, five hit rally to take the lead for good. Martin added a single and after
Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) walked to load the bases,
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) singled to shortstop to score the first run of the game for WNMU. Garcia added a first pitch RBI single up the middle and then Higgins unloaded the bases with a ringing double to left field for three RBI and a 5-1 WNMU lead.
Aker then kept FLC off the scoreboard until the seventh when they would get a run back.
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) came on in relief to get the final two outs and preserve the 5-2 victory.
WNMU held an 8-7 advantage on hits led by two hit games each from Garcia, Higgins and Martin. Missy Fundora led the Lady Skyhawks with two hits. Aker went 6.1 innings to earn her first win (1-2) of the season as she allowed just two earned runs on seven hits.
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tallied her first save of the season getting two outs in the seventh. Kiley Raica took the loss for the Lady Skyhawks giving up all five runs in 3.2 innings. Olivia Goldberg tossed the final 2.1 innings.
FLC and WNMU will close their four game series on Sunday beginning with another doubleheader at 11 a.m.
