SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University softball team started the 2016 portion of their home schedule in style collecting a pair of wins to open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. WNMU, behind a dominant start by redshirt junior Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite), took the opener over Colorado School of Mines, 3-0. To close the day, redshirt freshman Brooklyn Misenhimer (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) came through with the clutch hit to drive in the winning run over Black Hills State University, 5-4.

WNMU (6-11, 2-0 RMAC) got a terrific start in the circle from Shone in the opener as she went all seven innings allowing just seven hits, one walk and six strikeouts to secure her third (3-6) win of the season.

All the scoring took place early with the Lady Mustangs posting the first run in the opening inning as senior Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) singled to right to score junior Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) who walked earlier in the inning.

In the second, the offense again went back to work. Senior Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) worked a walk with the bases loaded to bring in the second run of the game. Her walk brought in freshman Yasmeen Gastelum (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle) who singled to open the frame. The next batter, Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) drilled a fly ball to center that plated junior Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) for the 3-0 lead. Aker was hit-by-pitch earlier in the inning.

Although CSM (1-6, 1-1 RMAC) didn't score a run, they made things interesting in several innings. They had two on in the third before Shone collected the strikeout. In the fifth with runners on the corners, another Shone strikeout retired the side. Then in their last at-bat, they once again had two on and Shone was ready to dial up another strikeout.

Ramirez and senior Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) paced the offense with two hits apiece. Three Lady Mustangs each posted an RBI.

Walling had two hits to lead the Orediggers.

Rogers also went the distance in the circle for the Orediggers and ended up with the loss (0-5) allowing all three earned runs on seven hits.

In the second game, it ended up going right down to the wire. WNMU struck right away against BHSU (0-7, 0-2 RMAC) with a run in the first. Freshman Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) double and then came home on an RBI single by sophomore Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View).

The Yellow Jackets answered that run with one of their own in the second. The Lady Mustangs wasted no time in the home half of the second to go right back in front.

Misenhimer began the inning with a one out double. Aker added a single to put runners at the corners. Aker then took off and stole second and on the play, the throw from the catcher sailed into the outfield allowing Misenhimer to score. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) capped the scoring with a well-timed sacrifice bunt that scored Aker to move WNMU ahead 3-1.

The teams just kept trading punches with Campo coming through with a big two-run double in the third to help the Yellow Jackets tie the game, this time at three.

Ramirez helped WNMU regain the lead in the home half as she connected on a solo home run for the 4-3 lead.

It stayed that way into the fifth when BHSU tied the game with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch.

That set the stage for walk off heroics. In the bottom of the seventh, Ramirez got things started with a ringing double down the left field line. After two outs, Ramirez was at third and Misenhimer was up. She was able to get just enough of the pitch to get it up the middle past both the second baseman and shortstop to bring in Ramirez with the winning run.

WNMU held a 10-6 edge on hits with Maldonado going 3-4 out of the two spot. Ramirez and Misenhimer added two hit games. Four Lady Mustangs each had an RBI.

Campo led BHSU with two hits and a pair of RBI.

Senior MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) started and went 4.2 innings allowing just three earned runs. Freshman Tiana Salazar (Peoria, AZ/Peoria) came on in relief and shut it down going the final 2.1 innings to collect the win (3-0) allowing just three base runners and added two strikeouts.

Witman went all 6.2 innings for the Yellow Jackets giving up the five runs, three earned and ended up with the loss (0-3).

WNMU will play two more on Sunday facing Black Hills State at 10 a.m. and then Colorado School of Mines at 2 p.m.