SILVER CITY, N.M. – Backed by a pair of strong pitching performances including a near no-hitter helped power Regis University past the Western New Mexico University softball team Saturday. The Rangers took game one 6-3 and then 9-1 in six innings in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.

The Lady Mustangs (21-32, 17-21 RMAC) slipped to eighth in the conference standings after Saturday's results. If WNMU can win both games Sunday, they would still guarantee themselves a spot in the conference tournament. However, if the Lady Mustangs get just one win Sunday, they would need Adams State to lose both games against Fort Lewis and also have CSU-Pueblo split. If WNMU ends up with no wins Sunday, they would then need CSU-Pueblo to lose both, as Adams State would remain ahead even if they lost both Sunday based on conference winning percentage. WNMU can get as high as fifth still in the standings. For that to happen they would have to sweep Sunday, then have Colorado Mines and UC-Colorado Springs lose both of their games and have Adams State split. Right now, Colorado Mesa, MSU Denver, Chadron State and Regis are set in the one through four slots.

In the first game Saturday against the Rangers (24-19, 19-13 RMAC), Regis rode the strong arm of Nicole Aviles to the victory. The senior right-hander struck out 11 and held the Lady Mustangs without a hit into the seventh inning.

During that time, the Rangers put up two runs in the second, three in the sixth and another in the seventh to open a 6-0 lead.

Down to their last at-bat, WNMU was able to get something going after junior Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) reached on a dropped fly ball by the centerfielder with one out in the frame. Senior Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) doubled on the very next pitch to break up the no-hitter and put runners on second and third. After a strikeout moved WNMU to their last out, senior Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) drilled a 1-2 pitch over the right-center field fence for a three-run shot to provide the final margin of 6-3.

Regis outhit WNMU 10-2, as Enriquez drove in all three runs on the homer. Denaly McGinn led the Rangers with a 3-4 game, while Alyssa Finger drove in two runs.

Aviles grabbed the complete game win (13-8) for the Rangers allowing just the three runs, all unearned in the seventh. Redshirt junior Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) did the best she could to counter Aviles' strong start going seven innings as well to end up with the loss (12-14) giving up two earned runs and she added nine strikeouts.

Regis fed off the momentum from the first game and carried it over into the second contest. They plated two runs in the first and two more in the second to open a 4-0 lead. After adding another run in the fourth for a 5-0 advantage, WNMU was able to get on the board in the home half.

With one out, freshman Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) connected on a 0-1 pitch sending it over the left field fence for a solo home run.

That ended up being the only run, as the Rangers posted a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to pick up the run-rule victory.

Although WNMU scored in just the one inning, they threatened in several others as they ended up leaving 10 on base.

Regis outhit WNMU 13-6, with sophomore Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) and Maldonado collecting two-hit games. Two Rangers had three-hit games in Rachel Illias and Bradey King, while three drove in two runs.

Nicole Hull tossed the six inning complete game win (11-8) for the Rangers allowing just the one earned run and added four strikeouts. Senior MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) started for WNMU and ended up with the loss (1-13) after going the first 3.1 innings and allowing three earned runs. Freshman Tiana Salazar (Peoria, AZ/Peoria) worked the final 2.2 innings and gave up four earned runs.

WNMU and Regis will wrap up their series with another doubleheader Sunday starting at 10 a.m. The five Lady Mustang seniors will be honored between games.