SILVER CITY, N.M. – Sophomore Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) was ready from the start Saturday as she drove in four runs in each game leaving the Western New Mexico University softball team to a pair of wins over New Mexico Highlands University in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. WNMU took game one, 8-4 and then grabbed game two, 4-1.

In the opener, NMHU (7-16, 4-10 RMAC) opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning.

It took the WNMU (13-16, 9-5 RMAC) offense a little bit to get going, but began to pile up the runs in the middle innings.

In the fourth, a throwing error allowed senior Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) to reach and it proved to be a big error. A few batters later, freshman Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) cashed in the error with an RBI single to right trimming the deficit to one, 2-1.

The Lady Mustangs grabbed the lead for good in the fifth. Senior Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) and junior Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) singled to put runners at first and second for Garcia. This was the start of Garcia's big day as she hit a 1-0 pitch deep to left-center for a double to plate Castillo with the tying run. Freshman Yasmeen Gastelum (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle) entered as a pinch-hitter as she wasted little time driving in a pair of runs as she ripped a 2-1 pitch to left-center as well that scored both Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and Garcia to move WNMU to the 4-2 lead after five.

The offense wasn't done as in the sixth junior Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) collected an RBI single driving home Maldonado who began the frame with a first-pitch single. After Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) singled to put runners on first and second, Garcia closed the scoring for WNMU connecting on a 1-0 pitch and sending it to deep left for a three-run homer and a 8-2 lead.

The Cowgirls came back with a pair of runs in the seventh, but couldn't come all the way back with WNMU taking the win.

WNMU piled up 12 hits to eight for NMHU. Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City), Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Garcia, Gastelum and Maldonado all had two hit games, with Garcia driving in a team-high four RBI. Victoria Gonzales posted a 3-4 game to lead NMHU.

Redshirt junior Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) went all seven innings for another complete game win (8-8). She allowed four runs, three earned, and fanned eight batters. Michelle Brincefield also went the distance for the Cowgirls in taking the loss (4-4) giving up eight runs, seven earned and added seven strikeouts.

In the second game, Garcia and freshman Tiana Salazar (Peoria, AZ/Peoria) had big games. Garcia would drive in four more runs and Salazar went the distance in the circle to complete the sweep.

It was a pitcher's duel over the first four innings with Salazar and Madison Davis putting up zeros. WNMU finally broke open the scoring in the fifth.

Senior MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) came off the bench to deliver a big pinch-hit one out single. Then on a ball hit by Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City), the shortstop tried to cut down the lead runner at second and her throw was good, but the second baseman dropped it for a big error to put runners at first and second. That error would be magnified later as the next batter grounded out, which would have been the final out. With the inning still alive, Garcia was ready to deliver as she hit the first pitch to left for another double to plate both runners for the 2-0 lead.

In the sixth, redshirt freshman Brooklyn Misenhimer (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) singled up the middle and after an out, MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) walked. Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) kept the train moving with a single to left to load the bases. After the second out was recorded, that set the stage for Garcia. She didn't disappoint as she hit a 1-0 pitch to center for another double to drive in both runners and move the lead to 4-0.

NMHU broke up the shutout with a two-out RBI single in the seventh before Salazar got the last out for the victory.

WNMU held a 9-3 edge on hits with Garcia posting another two-hit game. Garcia is now on a 15-game hitting streak. Gonzales had another strong game for the Cowgirls with two hits and the only RBI.

Salazar tossed all seven innings to pick up the complete game win (4-3). She allowed just one earned run and had six strikeouts. Davis pitched well for the Cowgirls also going the distance with all six innings and taking the loss (1-6). She gave up four runs, two earned, with six strikeouts as well.

WNMU and NMHU will conclude their weekend series with another doubleheader on Sunday starting at 11 a.m.