Box Score DENVER, Colo. – Behind a one-hit shutout performance by Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) and a three RBI game by Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), the Western New Mexico University softball team rolled to a 5-0 opening round Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory over Colorado Mesa on Thursday. The Lady Mustangs advance to the second round to face Regis at 3:45 p.m.

After WNMU (22-28) opened the game with a run in the first, that would be all they would need with Austin in the circle. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) doubled and then scored on the next pitched when Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) doubled to left-center to score Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) for the 1-0 lead.

Following a leadoff single in the home half of the first, Austin would allow only a walk in the fourth to complete the shutout win. She also added seven strikeouts to tally her 12^th (12-12) victory of the season.

The offense made sure to give Austin more than enough runs by tallying another in the third and three more in the fourth. In the third, Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) was hit-by-pitch and with two outs, Ramirez tripled into the right field corner to score Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and give WNMU a 2-0 lead.

The next inning, Ramirez came through again with the clutch hit. With Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) on by fielder's choice with two outs, Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) walked and then after an error by the shortstop allowed a run to score, Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) singled just in time for Ramirez to hit a 2-2 pitch to left-center to score a pair of runs and provide the final margin of 5-0.

WNMU outhit Colorado Mesa (32-22), 7-1, with Ramirez tallying two hits and three RBI, along with a pair of walks. WNMU entered as the seventh seed, while CMU was the second seed.

The Lady Mustangs will look to advance to the third round of the RMAC Tournament when they face third seed Regis this afternoon.