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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Krystal Castillo
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
2
Western New Mexico WNMU 16-20, 12-9 RMAC
3
Winner Colorado Christian CCU 8-26, 7-15 RMAC
Western New Mexico WNMU
16-20, 12-9 RMAC
2
Final
3
Colorado Christian CCU
8-26, 7-15 RMAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western New Mexico WNMU 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 8 1
Colorado Christian CCU 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 11 3

W: Diffenderfer (2-5) L: Shone, Domi (10-10)

3
Western New Mexico WNMU 16-21, 13-9 RMAC
6
Winner UCCS UCCS 15-11, 12-9 RMAC
Western New Mexico WNMU
16-21, 13-9 RMAC
3
Final
6
UCCS UCCS
15-11, 12-9 RMAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western New Mexico WNMU 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 8 3
UCCS UCCS 0 1 1 0 2 2 X 6 5 1

W: Haley Smith (7-3) L: Salazar, Tiana (5-4)

Game Recap: Softball | | Brian Kortz

Softball Falls in Two Close Games Against Cougars, Mountain Lions

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With weather causing issues to start the games, the Western New Mexico University softball team was finally able to play two on Thursday. After taking the field for the first game at nearly five, the Lady Mustangs fell just short 3-2 against Colorado Christian. To conclude the night WNMU went against host UC-Colorado Springs and the Mountain Lions took the 6-3 win in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.

WNMU (16-21, 12-10 RMAC) and CCU (8-26, 7-15 RMAC) combined for 19 hits in the opener, but were only able to plate five runs. The Cougars began the scoring with a two-out rally plating a run in the first inning.

The Lady Mustangs quickly tied things up in the second. Redshirt freshman Brooklyn Misenhimer (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) doubled to open the inning on a 0-2 pitch. Following an out, she advanced to third on a double by freshman Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola). Senior Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) cashed in the run with a sacrifice fly to center on a full-count pitch to even the game at one.

It stayed that way into the fourth when CCU opened the inning with a solo home run by Valenzuela. It took until the seventh when the Lady Mustangs came back and nearly took the lead.

With one out already on the board, senior Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) reached on an error by the shortstop. That proved to be a big error, as WNMU cashed in the miscue later on. Junior Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) followed with a singled to left and then a single to left by sophomore Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) loaded the bases. It looked like maybe the Cougars would get out of the inning without damage when a pop out to second marked the second out. Junior Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) had other ideas as she took the first pitch to center for a single that brought in Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) to tie the game at two. On the play, Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) also tried to score, but was cut down at the plate on the throw home by the center fielder leaving the game tied at two.

The Cougars went to work in the home half of the inning getting two singles to start the frame. After a lineout to third became the first out, Barr singled to center to bring in the winning run as the ball was misplayed in the outfield giving CCU the 3-2 walk-off win.

Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) paced the Lady Mustangs with two hits as WNMU has eight as a team. Barr posted a three-hit game for the Cougars, while Valenzuela had two RBI.

Redshirt junior Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) started and went all 6.1 innings for WNMU and ended up with the loss (10-10) giving up three runs, two earned and also had her second-highest strikeout game of the season with seven. Diffenderfer picked up the complete game win (2-5) for the Cougars allowing two runs, one earned.

In the nightcap, WNMU faced host UCCS (15-11, 12-9 RMAC) and nearly came back with a late rally in the seventh before the Mountain Lions left the tying run at the plate.

UCCS scored a run in both the second and third innings for the 2-0 lead. WNMU got on the board with a run in the fifth. Misenhimer opened the inning with a first-pitch single to right. Freshman Clarissa Moreno (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) added a first-pitch single down the left field line. After a Maldonado sacrifice bunt moved both runners up, Enriquez picked up another sacrifice fly on the day, this one on a foul out to left to score junior pinch-runner Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo).

The Mountain Lions then built their lead to five with a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth innings for the 6-1 lead entering the seventh. With Moreno on via a walk with two outs, the Lady Mustangs came to life. Enriquez drilled a ground-rule double down the left field line and then Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) singled to second base to score Moreno leaving the deficit at four. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) kept the offense moving with a single to shortstop on a 0-2 pitch to bring in Enriquez making it a 6-3 contest. Garcia was next up and she battled the count to full and the 10th pitch of the at-bat was a called strike three to end the game.

WNMU held an 8-5 edge on hits, but also committed three errors to one for the Mountain Lions. Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) and Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) each posted two hit games. Martinek paced the Mountain Lions with a pair of hits.

Freshman Tiana Salazar (Peoria, AZ/Peoria) started in the circle and went the first 1.2 innings giving up one earned run and took the loss (5-4). Senior MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) went the final 4.1 innings giving up just three earned runs. Haley Smith picked up the complete game victory (7-3) for UCCS allowing the three earned runs and added five strikeouts.

WNMU will finish up their pod tomorrow (Friday) starting with host UC-Colorado Springs at 10 a.m. before finishing the day at noon versus Colorado Christian. 
 
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