Box Score DENVER, Colo. – Down three runs early, the Western New Mexico University softball team looked to be in trouble. Having just played a marathon 13 inning game last night, what was left in the tank? The answer was plenty. The Lady Mustangs used a three-run homer by
Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School), solid pitching from
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and a game-winning hit from
Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) to come back and win in 10 innings against Colorado State-Pueblo, 5-4, in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament playback bracket.
It would only be fitting for the Lady Mustangs to have to go extra innings, one night after playing 13 and a total of 20 on Thursday. WNMU (23-29) got the start they wanted with
Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) coming through with a two-out single in the first inning on a 1-2 pitch to score
Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) who walked to open the game.
CSU-Pueblo (28-23) would come back to plate two runs in both the second and third innings to open a 4-1 lead.
Higgins then brought WNMU all the way back to tie in the fifth. Enriquez opened the frame with a single and after an out,
Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) was hit-by-pitch to put a pair of runners on. Higgins then connected on a 3-2 pitch for a three-run home run to left to tie the game at four.
It would then be a pitcher's and defensive duel by both teams over the next four innings moving the game to the 10
th.
Higgins began the final inning with a single to center on a full count pitch. Ramirez then moved her to second with a single up the middle.
Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) followed with a groundout that moved both runners up and after a groundout marked the second out, it set the stage for Castillo. Castillo had a 1-1 count before finding a hole through the left side of the infield for a single that brought in Higgins with the game-winning run.
WNMU outhit CSU-Pueblo, 11-9, with Higgins posting three hits and three RBI. Enriquez, Ramirez and Castillo added two hit games apiece. In the circle,
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) came on in relief of
Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) and kept WNMU in the game allowing just six hits over 7.2 scoreless innings to tally her seventh win (7-11) of the season.
With the win, the Lady Mustangs will now face top seed and host #18 MSU Denver later tonight in the playback bracket.
