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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Stephanie Higgins
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
2
Western New Mexico WNMU 22-29
3
Winner Regis University RUSB 29-17
Western New Mexico WNMU
22-29
2
Final
3
Regis University RUSB
29-17
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 R H E
Western New Mexico WNMU 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 2
Regis University RUSB 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 9 2

W: N. Aviles (19-8) L: Austin, Mikayla (12-13)

Game Recap: Softball | | Brian Kortz

Softball Goes 13 Innings in Wild RMAC Tournament Game Versus Regis

DENVER, Colo. – Twelve innings in, the game was still tied. The Western New Mexico University softball team played a marathon 13 innings against Regis University in the second round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament that went to the Lady Rangers, 3-2, Thursday.

Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) and Nicole Aviles went toe-to-toe in the circle, as neither allowed a run after the seventh inning, recording many 1-2-3 innings.

It wasn't only a struggle to score runs late in the game, runs were at a premium early in the contest as well. Following three scoreless innings, WNMU (22-29) broke through in the fourth inning.

Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) singled with one out and then came home on the next pitch when Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) connected on a two-run homer to left field for the 2-0 lead.

It would remain that way into the sixth when Regis (29-17) hit a sacrifice fly to trim the WNMU lead to one. In the seventh, the Lady Rangers were able to fight back and extend the game. With one out, Regis used a triple and double on back-to-back pitches to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

The Lady Mustangs looked ready to end the game in the ninth with a pair of singles to leadoff the inning by Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) and Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), but Aviles collected a pair of outs after a sacrifice bunt to keep the game tied at two.

It would be hard over the next few innings for either team to get a runner past second base until the 13th inning. Regis opened with a double and then on a sacrifice bunt attempt, the throw got away to allow the lead runner to score for the 3-2 victory.

Regis held a 9-6 edge on hits with Higgins and Garcia leading WNMU with a pair of hits apiece. In the circle, Austin started and ended up pitching 11.1 innings of the game giving up just one earned run to take the hard-luck loss (12-13). MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tossed two-thirds of an inning. Nicole Hull started for the Lady Rangers going four innings before Aviles relieved her going the final nine innings without allowing a run.

WNMU will now have to try and battle back in the playback bracket beginning on Friday morning at 10 a.m. against Colorado State-Pueblo. The ThunderWolves entered the tournament as the fourth seed. That game and the rest of the games in the tournament will be played on the MSU Denver Softball Field. Live stats and video will be available for the game. 
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