SILVER CITY, N.M. – Behind a solid pitching and hitting performance by MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) in the second game, the Western New Mexico University softball team came back to gain a split against New Mexico Highlands University on Saturday in RMAC action. The Cowgirls took game one, 5-2, before WNMU came back for the 9-5 win in the nightcap.

The winds were swirling early on and both teams took advantage to hit some long balls in the first game. Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) opened senior weekend with a bang connecting on a solo homer to center in the second inning to give WNMU (20-25, 17-17 RMAC) the early 1-0 lead.

NMHU (17-25, 11-18 RMAC) would answer back with their own home runs starting with a solo shot in the third. They added a two-run homer in the fourth and then another solo homer in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.

Trailing 5-1 in the seventh, the Lady Mustangs tried to rally with Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) singling home Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) who singled earlier in the inning to trim the deficit to three. That would be as close as WNMU would get with Jessica Brink recording the last out to give the Cowgirls the 5-2 win.

Each team recorded eight hits, with four going for home runs in the contest. Enriquez and Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) led WNMU with two hits apiece. Ka'iulani Kamai led the Cowgirls with a pair of hits.

Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) started in the circle for the Lady Mustangs ending up with the loss (10-12) after going four innings and allowing four earned runs along with eight strikeouts. MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) came on in relief to toss the final three innings and gave up just one earned run. Brink went all seven innings for NMHU to pick up her 10^th win of the season.
In game two, the Lady Mustangs rallied behind a strong pitching and hitting performance by MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad). She tossed into the seventh inning and added five RBI at the plate to lead the way.

NMHU started the scoring with two runs in the third inning. WNMU answered in the home half with an unearned run on a misplay by the second baseman leaving it a 2-1 game.

From that point on, the Lady Mustangs would score at least a run in every inning to come back and take the win. In the fourth, Munoz opened with a single and quickly scored on a first-pitch double by MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) to tie the game at two. Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) then added a single to center also on the first pitch to boost WNMU in front, 3-2.

With the bases loaded in the fifth, MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) found herself at the plate and came through with a single up the middle to score two. Castillo added her second RBI single later in the inning to give the Lady Mustangs a 6-2 lead.

NMHU would tally a run in the top of the sixth just to watch the Lady Mustang offense again go to work to plate three more runs. Higgins delivered the first run of the inning singling home Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View). MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) came up with two runners aboard and hit a single up the middle to score two more runners, as the Lady Mustangs took advantage of an error in the inning to post two unearned runs and take a 9-3 lead into the seventh.

The Cowgirls were able to scratch across two runs before Austin came on in relief to get the last few outs and give WNMU the 9-5 victory.

The two teams combined for 25 hits with WNMU holding the slight 13-12 advantage. Eight Lady Mustangs had at least a hit with MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) going 3-for-4 with five RBI. Castrillo also went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) had a two-hit game. In the circle, MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) went six innings to pick up her sixth (6-9) win of the season allowing four earned runs and tossing a season-high eight strikeouts. Austin tossed the final inning allowing just one hit and had a pair of strikeouts. Michelle Brincefield went all six innings for NMHU in the circle allowing six earned runs.

WNMU remains in seventh in the conference standings. CSU-Pueblo won both games, Adams State split and Colorado Christian pushed their games back to Sunday and Monday as those were the three teams right ahead of the Lady Mustangs.

WNMU and NMHU will wrap up their series with another doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. It will also be senior day for Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) and Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School).