DENVER, Colo. – Going against the top team in the conference and No. 18 team in the nation didn't faze the Western New Mexico University softball team. The Lady Mustangs outhit MSU Denver and had the tying and winning runs on base before the Lady Roadrunners escaped with a 6-5 victory in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament playback bracket Friday night.

MSU Denver (41-13) flexed their muscles early on hitting a two-run and solo homer in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. They then cashed in a pair of unearned runs in the third to take a 5-0 lead.

WNMU (23-30) would cash in on a Roadrunner error in the fifth. With two outs already recorded, a throwing error on a ball put in play by Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) extended the inning. Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) worked a walk and Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) then singled to load the bases. Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) delivered down in the count 1-2 singling to right-center to plate two runs and move WNMU to within three at 5-2.

MSU Denver tallied a run in the sixth and it would turn out to be a big run. In the seventh with WNMU as the home team, they came out ready to swing in their last at-bat. The Lady Mustangs knocked Cassidy Smith out of the game opening the inning with three straight singles by Enriquez, Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and Garcia. Nicole Larsen relieved Smith and WNMU kept the pressure up with Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) hitting a sacrifice fly. Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) singled on the first pitch up the middle to re-load the bases. Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) wasted little time singling as well on a 0-1 pitch back through the box as well to plate a run leaving WNMU down just two with one out. Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) nearly hit one through the infield, but was stopped to get a force out at second, which allowed the fifth run of the game to score for the Lady Mustangs. With runners at the corners and down to their last out, Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) looked for her second big hit of the day after winning the game against Colorado State-Pueblo. She fell behind 0-2 and after a few foul balls, she ripped one to third and nearly beat the throw to first, but was called out as MSU Denver survived with the 6-5 victory.

WNMU held an 11-7 edge on hits, with Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and Garcia recording three hit games. Castillo posted a pair of hits. In their final games as Lady Mustangs, Higgins had an RBI and Othon added a hit and an RBI. In the circle, MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) again delivered just like she did against the ThunderWolves. She tossed 6.1 innings and allowed just five hits and one earned run. Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) started for the Lady Mustangs throwing the first two-thirds innings and ended up with the loss (12-14). Smith picked up the win for MSU Denver, while Larsen picked up the save.

The 23 win season is the most for WNMU since they went 29-29 in 2011. That was also the last year in which they won two games in the conference tournament just like this season.

End of the season leaders for the Lady Mustangs were as follows: batting average: Higgins (.417), runs scored: Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) (46), hits: Higgins (73), doubles: Higgins (19), triples: Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) (5), home runs: Higgins (12), RBI: Higgins (53), total bases: Higgins (130), slugging percentage: Higgins (.743), walks: Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad)/Enriquez (22), on-base percentage: Higgins (.480), stolen bases: Enriquez (6). Pitching stat leaders: ERA: Austin (4.59), wins: Austin (12), appearances: MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) (42), games started: Austin (23), shutouts: Austin (1), saves: Austin/MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) (3), innings pitched: Austin (155.2), strikeouts: Austin (138), batting averages against: Austin (.253).