GOLDEN, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University softball team fought back to nearly win both games Sunday against the Colorado School of Mines before the Lady Orediggers claimed the sweep, 4-3 and 6-5, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.

In the first game, CSM (10-31, 8-19 RMAC) opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-out single driving in a pair for the 2-0 lead.

In the sixth, WNMU (19-24, 16-16 RMAC) worked their way back into the game. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) walked to open the frame. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners up, Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) singled through the left side on a 2-2 pitch to score Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad). Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) wasted little time driving in the second run of the inning as she followed with a single up the middle to plate Higgins to tie the game at two.

The Lady Orediggers regained the lead in the home half plating another two out run for the 3-2 advantage heading to the seventh. In the last frame, the Lady Mustangs fought back just like Saturday to extend the game. Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) got the inning started with a one out single. Following a fly out, Higgins came through with a clutch single on a 1-2 pitch down the left field line to score Garcia and tie the game at three. WNMU nearly took the lead as a walk to Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) had runners on first and second before a pop out ended the inning.

The game looked to be headed for extra innings when CSM again scored with two outs to win the game. With the first two outs recorded, a single and a pair of walks set the stage for a walk-off hit by Cassie Ford as her single drove in the winning run to give the Lady Orediggers a 4-3 victory.

Each team recorded six hits, with Othon leading the way with a two-hit performance. In the circle, Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) started and went 6.2 innings allowing four earned runs for the loss (10-11). MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) came on to face one batter in the seventh which was Ford. Hallie Smith grabbed the win for CSM going all seven innings and allowing three earned runs.

In the second game, WNMU jumped ahead right out of the gate when Higgins drilled a three-run homer in the first inning. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), who singled and Garcia, who reached on an error, each scored on Higgins' home run as she took the first pitch out to left field.

CSM answered with three runs, two unearned in the third inning to tie the game at three.

The Lady Orediggers put up another three runs, with all unearned, in the fourth inning to open a 6-3 lead.

Just like the games before in the series, WNMU would begin to work their way back. In the fifth, Garcia delivered an RBI double to score Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), who walked earlier in the inning, to leave WNMU down just two. The Lady Mustangs would take advantage of a CSM error, as a throwing error by the second baseman allowed Garcia to score on a ball put in play by Ramirez to trim the deficit to one, 6-5.

In the final two innings, the Lady Mustangs would get a base hit in each, but neither runner would get past first base with CSM claiming the 6-5 victory.

WNMU outhit CSM, 9-8, with Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and Higgins leading the way with two hits apiece. Higgins drove in three runs. In the circle, MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) started and went all six innings for WNMU allowing only one earned run to take the loss (5-9), she also had three strikeouts. Kristen Prudhomme got the win for the Lady Orediggers going all seven innings giving up three earned runs.

WNMU, now seventh in the RMAC, remains a few games/percentage points behind a trio of teams (Colorado Christian, CSU-Pueblo and Adams State) in fourth through sixth.

The Lady Mustangs return home to face in-state rival New Mexico Highlands University this coming weekend beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon. It will also be senior day for Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) and Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School), as Othon is set to graduate this spring.