ST. GEORGE, UTAH – The Western New Mexico University softball team stayed close until late in the game against Western Oregon University dropping the game, 8-4. In the second game of the day, the Lady Mustangs held Cal Baptist to just a pair of runs in 2-0 defeat Friday in the first day of the Dixie State Tournament.
Western Oregon (2-4) started strong posting four runs in the first inning. WNMU (3-9) answered right back in the home half. Senior
Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) reached on a throwing error to start the frame as she ended up moving to second on the throw and later third on a wild pitch. After a walk to junior
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), sophomore
Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) doubled to left to plate Castillo. Junior
Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) worked a walk with one out to put runners on the corners. Freshman
Clarissa Moreno (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) brought in the second run of the inning when her sacrifice fly to left scored
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) leaving WNMU down 4-2 after the first.
The Lady Mustangs fought their way back to tie the game in the third. Senior
Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) began things with a double to left.
Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) then reached on a throwing error that allowed Ramirez to score. On the play, she made it all the way to third on the throw away. Moreno was ready again to collect an RBI as she singled to center to score
Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and tie the game at four.
The Wolves posted a run in the fourth and three more in the sixth to open an 8-4 lead. WNMU tried to rally once again, getting two hits in the fourth, one in the sixth and two runners on in the seventh, but weren't able to bring in anymore runs.
Western Oregon outhit the Lady Mustangs, 14-8, while both teams committed four errors.
Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tallied two hits to lead the offense. Moreno drove in a team-high two RBI.
Huffman had three hits to lead the Wolves, while Knowles had three RBI.
Both pitchers went the distance in the circle with redshirt junior
Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) allowing five earned runs, along with three strikeouts without a walk and ended up with the loss (1-5). Dominguez recorded the win for the Wolves allowing just one earned run.
It was opposite of the first game when WNMU matched up with Cal Baptist (9-1). Both teams pitched well and played good defense with no errors. CBU held the slight 7-6 edge in hits.
The Lancers, who came in receiving votes in the NFCA Preseason Poll, were able to scratch out runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Senior
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) was strong in the circle going 4.2 innings and allowing just the two earned runs. Shone tossed the final 1.1 innings not allowing a single base runner.
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) took the hard-luck loss (0-4). Hatch went all seven innings for CBU allowing just a walk and had no strikeouts, relying on the defense to make plays.
The Lady Mustangs threatened in the first inning, getting a single by
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and a walk by Ramirez before the Lancers worked out of the inning with a pop out.
WNMU had another solid inning going in the fourth. Ramirez and
Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) began the frame with singles. An out on the bases and then a pop out and ground out ended the threat. The Lady Mustangs had two more runners on in the fifth. Freshman
Deidre Vega (Bayard, NM/Cobre) was hit-by-pitch and
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tallied a single. A fly out again ended the rally with no runs. Freshman
Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) had a hit in the last at-bat for the Lady Mustangs, but that would be the only base runner in the inning as the Lancers held on for the win.
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) led the offense with two hits. Burkhart went 3-for-3 for CBU.
WNMU will face Hawaii at Hilo at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, before finishing the day at 3 p.m. against MSU-Billings.
