Jay Hemphill, WNMU

Mariangela Garcia is off to a strong start to the season picking up two hits in both games.

Softball 2/3/2017 6:17:00 PM Brian Kortz

Softball Opens Season With Pair of Tough Teams at Desert Stinger

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Facing two of the top teams out of the West Region made for a challenging start to the season for the Western New Mexico University softball team. They fell to No. 2 Humboldt State 12-1 and then against Azusa Pacific 12-4, both in five innings during the first day of the Desert Stinger.

No. 2 Humboldt State was worthy of their ranking, as the national runner-up from last season tallied just seven hits, but took advantage of four extra base hits and six walks to tally their runs.

Redshirt senior Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) started for the Lady Mustangs and went 1.1 innings to take the loss as she allowed nine earned runs on six hits. Freshman Lyana Waddell (Winkelman, AZ/San Manuel) went the final 2.2 innings allowing just two earned runs on a hit. WNMU tallied four hits with junior Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) recording two hits and a walk going 2-2.

The Lady Mustangs threatened in the first inning as senior Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) reached on an error and Garcia singled to put runners at the corners with one out. A pair of strikeouts, though, ended the threat.

The Lumberjacks came away with six runs on three hits in the home half of the first to take the early lead.

After a one-two-three top of the second, Humboldt State jumped the lead to 10-0 with a four-spot in the bottom of the second. The Lumberjacks put up two more runs to close their scoring in the third and the Lady Mustangs got on the board in the fourth.

Garcia opened with a walk and then sophomore Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) doubled to left-center. Redshirt sophomore Brooklyn Misenhimer (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) walked to load the bases. Following a ground out, senior Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) drove in the run with a sacrifice fly to center.

WNMU looked to score again in the fifth when Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) reached on a hit-by-pitch, junior Aryana Gutierrez (Glendale, AZ/Deer Valley) singled to center and after Garcia singled to right field, WNMU had the bases loaded with one out. The Lumberjacks were able to avoid any further damage with a fly out and ground out to end the inning and the game with the run-rule five innings.

Humboldt State was led by Tiffany Hollingsworth posting a 3-3 game with three RBI and three runs scored. Breonna Bejaran and Illa Haley added two RBI apiece. Jasmine Hill started in the circle to pick up the win going three innings and allowing only one hit and adding seven strikeouts.

In the second game of the day, WNMU ran into another tough team in Azusa Pacific. The Cougars, currently receiving votes in the national poll, scored all of their runs over the first three innings to take the victory.

After posting three runs in the top of the first, WNMU came back to get on the board in the home half. After the first two were out, Garcia started the rally with a single to second. Maldonado quickly drove her in with a double to right leaving Azusa Pacific with the 3-1 lead after one.

The Cougars added three in the second and six in the third to build a 12-1 lead. The Lady Mustangs weren't about to go away quietly. In the third, Gutierrez singled and later stole second. Maldonado singled to shortstop and after a strikeout, Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) doubled down the left field line to bring in the second run of the game.

In the fourth, junior Victoria Arganda (San Bernardino, CA/Pacific) opened the frame reaching on a hit-by-pitch. Junior Valeria Luna (El Paso, TX/Irvin) singled to pitcher to put runners at first and second and then both advanced a base on a passed ball. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) cashed in with an RBI single to right. After Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) stole second and a ground out, Garcia singled to right for the second run of the inning leaving WNMU down 12-4. That ended up being all they could get in the frame, as a fly out and ground out with the bases loaded finished the inning.

Waddell started in the circle for WNMU and ended up with the loss allowing six earned runs in an inning of work. Shone came on in relief and tossed a solid four innings, giving up just four earned runs and added three strikeouts.
Garcia added another two-hit game, while Maldonado also went 2-3. Kayla Jimenez had a big game for the Cougars going 4-4 with four RBI out of the clean-up spot. In the circle, Ariana Von Zboray took the win going four innings and allowing four earned runs.

WNMU will continue the Desert Stinger tomorrow beginning with Chico State at 4:30 p.m., before closing the day at 7 p.m. against Hawaii-Hilo. Both start times are Pacific Time.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#14 Mariangela Garcia: SS; 5' 5"; Junior; R/R

#6 Lacy Granger: IN; 5' 2"; Senior; R/R

#2 Linzy Granger: 2B; 5' 2"; Senior; R/R

#9 Ariana Maldonado: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R

#16 Brooklyn Misenhimer: IN; 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R

#23 Domi Shone: P; 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior; L/L

#11 Lyana Waddell: P; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

#20 Valeria Luna: OF; 5' 5"; Junior; L/R

#24 Victoria Arganda: IN; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

#3 Aryana Gutierrez: OF; 5' 2"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#14 Mariangela Garcia
: 5' 5"; Junior; R/R
: SS

#6 Lacy Granger
: 5' 2"; Senior; R/R
: IN

#2 Linzy Granger
: 5' 2"; Senior; R/R
: 2B

#9 Ariana Maldonado
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#16 Brooklyn Misenhimer
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R
: IN

#23 Domi Shone
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior; L/L
: P

#11 Lyana Waddell
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#20 Valeria Luna
: 5' 5"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#24 Victoria Arganda
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: IN

#3 Aryana Gutierrez
: 5' 2"; Junior; L/R
: OF