SILVER CITY, N.M. – Fort Lewis College responded Sunday coming back to take a pair from the Western New Mexico University softball team 17-8 and 9-0 in five innings in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
Similar to the games on Saturday, FLC (8-11, 6-2 RMAC) started early and scored the first runs of the game plating two in the third. They would add two more in the fourth for a 4-0 lead. WNMU (10-13, 7-5 RMAC)scored their first run in the home half of the inning as
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) singled in
Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) who singled to open the frame.
The teams traded a run in the fifth with WNMU answering FLC's run with an RBI double by
Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) that scored
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) who opened the inning with a single leaving the Lady Skyhawks ahead 5-2.
FLC recorded three in the sixth, just to watch WNMU answer right back with three of their own. The first three batters reached with
Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) getting on via an error,
Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) walked and
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) was hit-by-pitch.
Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) drove in the first run with a fielder's choice RBI.
Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) singled on a 2-2 pitch to center to drive home Enriquez. Ramirez then plated the final run of the inning with an RBI fielder's choice groundout making it an 8-5 FLC lead after six.
The Lady Skyhawks came through with nine runs on 10 hits to open a 17-5 lead. WNMU tried to comeback best they could in the home half as Martin,
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and Garcia all drove in runs to provide the final score of 17-8.
FLC outhit WNMU 22-10, as WNMU committed seven errors to two for the Lady Skyhawks. Nine Lady Mustangs had at least a hit with Munoz posting a pair of hits to lead the way. Garcia and Ramirez drove in two runs apiece. Lauren Caldwell and Myndee Thompson led FLC with four hit games. Jeovanna Rios drove in six.
In the circle,
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) went 6.1 innings and ended up with the loss (4-5) giving up nine earned runs.
Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) tossed the final two-thirds of the inning. Victoria Johnson picked up the win for FLC going 4.2 innings and allowing two earned runs. Olivia Goldberg pitched the final 2.1 innings giving up three earned runs.
In the second game, FLC was paced in the circle by Kiley Raica as she held WNMU to four hits in picking up the shutout. WNMU threatened in the first getting two runners on, but a groundout ended the inning. Enriquez was at third in the third inning, but wouldn't get any further following another groundout to end the threat.
In the fourth, hits from Ramirez and
Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) had the inning going before a lineout and groundout kept WNMU off the board. A
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) triple with two outs in the fifth again had the Lady Mustangs threatening and again Raica came through with the big outs to keep WNMU scoreless.
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Ramirez, Munoz and Martin accounted for the WNMU hits. FLC held an 11-4 edge on hits as Rios led FLC with three hits and added two RBI. Raica tallied the win in the circle for FLC going all five innings. Aker started for WNMU and tossed 2.2 innings ending up with the loss (1-3).
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) also logged 2.1 innings.
WNMU will hit the road this coming week as they will play at MSU Denver beginning with a doubleheader Saturday at noon.
