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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
2018 Softball Team
5
Western N.M. WNMU 1-12, 0-3 LSC
7
Winner Eastern N.M. ENMU 8-5, 3-0 LSC
Western N.M. WNMU
1-12, 0-3 LSC
5
Final
7
Eastern N.M. ENMU
8-5, 3-0 LSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western N.M. WNMU 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 5 14 2
Eastern N.M. ENMU 1 2 1 1 0 2 X 7 11 1

W: Hanna Gary (3-1) L: Waddell, Lyana (1-6)

Game Recap: Softball | | Brian Kortz

Offense Returns for Lady Mustangs in Series Finale Against Greyhounds

PORTALES, N.M. – The offense was limited to just four hits Saturday in a doubleheader, but what a difference a day makes. The Western New Mexico University softball team pounded out 14 hits and five runs, but a late pinch-hit two-run homer was the runs Eastern New Mexico University needed late to hold on for the 7-5 Lone Star Conference victory on Sunday.

Nine players had at least a hit for WNMU (1-12, 0-3 LSC), with redshirt freshman Alicia Habitzreuther (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena) tallying three hits and two RBI, along with a home run. Juniors Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) and Carolyn Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City), along with freshman Grisdey Paredes-Alvarez all recorded two hits apiece. Freshman Dominique Gonzales added two RBI.

The Lady Mustangs opened the scoring in the first when Habitzreuther drilled a two-out double to center on a 1-2 pitch to plate senior Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View), who worked a full-count walk earlier in the frame.

The lead didn't last long, as Eastern New Mexico (8-5, 3-0 LSC) came right back with a run in the home half to even the score at one after one. The Greyhounds added two runs in the second and one each in the third and fourth to open up a 5-1 lead.

Just when it looked like the game was getting out of hand, the WNMU offense woke up in the fifth. Habitzreuther opened the frame in style as she launched a solo homer to left-center. With the bases loaded, Gonzales took a 1-1 pitch to right-center to score both sophomore Justyce Millan-Martinez (Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X) and Paredes-Alvarez to cut the deficit to one. After a fielder's choice out marked the second out and redshirt junior Brooklyn Misenhimer (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) walked to load the bases, Garcia drove in the tying run with a single to third base to score Gonzales. A groundout followed to end the inning, but after the four runs scored, WNMU was tied at five with ENMU.

WNMU threatened to take the lead in the sixth when Paredes-Alvarez and Castillo began things with back-to-back singles. After that, a pair of strikeouts and an infield pop out to shortstop ended the inning. ENMU then got the big hit they needed to take the lead for good.

In the bottom of the sixth, pinch-hitter Courtney Vigil connected on a two-run homer to left on a 2-2 pitch to move the Greyhounds out to a 7-5 lead entering the seventh.

The Lady Mustangs sure made things interesting in their last at-bat. Following two quick outs, three straight batters were hit-by-pitch in Garcia, Habitzreuther and Paredes-Alvarez to load the bases. Hanna Gary then induced a groundball back to the circle and she recorded the out at first to leave the bases loaded and allow ENMU to escape with the win.

It was a game of almost for the Lady Mustangs as they ended up leaving 16 runners on base. The run differential in this year's series mirrored what happened last year in that ENMU won by a run, two runs and eight both this season and last year in Silver City as well. Four of the last six meetings have been decided by two runs or less.

Precious Aguirre, Erikka Burke and Elena Garcia led the Greyhounds with two hits apiece. Vigil had the multi-RBI game which was her pinch-her go-ahead homer.

In the circle, sophomore Thalia O'Neill (Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield) started and went the first inning allowing three earned runs. Sophomore Lyana Waddell (Winkelman, AZ/San Manuel) went the final five innings and allowed just two earned runs, along with a pair of strikeouts to take the tough-luck loss (1-6). For ENMU, Kimberly Herron started and went the first four innings and allowed three earned runs on nine hits. Leslie Reyes went the next inning and allowed two unearned runs before Gray went the final two innings to get the win (3-1) giving up no earned runs and just two hits.

WNMU will remain on the road this coming week as they will play at nationally-ranked Angelo State starting with a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 2 p.m. Mountain Time.
 
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