Wichita Falls, Tex.—Western New Mexico softball hits the road this weekend to Midwestern State in a matchup between Mustangs to continue regular season conference play.
Western (2-14, 1-5 LSC) closed out the home opening series with an all-around win over a ranked Tarleton State team. Nearly 24-hours earlier the Texanns dominated the first game with a no-hitter, tallying 17 runs. Game two saw TSU score another 15 runs, but behind the bat of
Alicia Habitzreuther (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena) and her two- three run homers, the Mustangs brought in six runs.
The third and final game of the weekend featured freshman
Julia Vega (Tucson, AZ/University High School) on the mound, and a relentless Mustang defense behind her. TSU got on the board first in the top half of the opening inning with a solo homerun by the leadoff hitter. With a runner on,
Marina Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) sent a shot over the left center fence scoring two, and taking the lead.
In the bottom of the third, Western would increase their lead to four on a double from
Carolyn Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City). Inning after inning, the Mustangs continued to make plays behind tough pitching from Vega holding TSU to only two runs on four hits, ending the game with the threat of bases loaded.
SCOUTING MIDWESTERN:
This will be the second time these two teams meet up this season. Back on Feb. 2, the two teams met in Lubbock in the opening weekend with Midwestern taking the single game 9-1. With the bases loaded, a walk from
Alexis Gonzalez (Phoenix, AZ/Deer Valley) brought
Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) home scoring the only run for WNMU.
MSU – Texas tallied three home runs, 11 hits total in the win behind Abbie Lancaster. She allowed one run, on five hits, striking out and walking two.
The Mustangs (9-9, 2-7 LSC) are currently on a three game losing streak, after dropping the series at #21 West Texas, bringing their road record to 1-6. On their home turf MSU boasts a 4-1 record, their only loss so far coming against Cameron in game one of their series.
Senior pitcher Abbie Lancaster has seen significant time on the mount, posting five wins already this season with a 3.50 ERA in 18 innings pitched, only one win in conference play. One of her wins was against Western earlier in the season, pitching three of the five innings, allowing just one hit, one walk and one strikeout.
On the offensive side of the ball Carli Woolsey bats a .308 in conference play to lead her team, with eight hits, two doubles and four RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .385.
LADY MUSTANGS AT A GLANCE:
As a true freshman,
Marina Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) knows how to swing averaging .533 with 15 at bats. So far in conference play, Garcia has brought in six runs, in eight hits and three RBIs. Her two-run homerun in game three of the Tarleton Series gave her team the early lead, and ultimately fueled the 5-2 win.
Senior
Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) follows closely behind with a .500, tallying eight hits and four runs with two doubles. Redshirt sophomore,
Alicia Habitzreuther (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena) got her team on the board in game two of the Tarleton series, crushing two, three-run bombs to center field, driving in two runs and six RBIs.
On the mound the Lady Mustangs have struggled to find a rhythm, but
Julia Vega (Tucson, AZ/University High School) just might be the answer. The freshman from Arizona took charge on the mound in the final game of last weekend, allowing just four hits and two runs going the full seven innings.
This weekend's game times have been moved up due to rain and thunderstorms projected in the forecast. The doubleheader will now be played on Thursday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., followed by a single game at 12 p.m. on Friday. Live stats will be available for all the games, including a Facebook live stream during the 5 p.m. game on Thursday.
Western will return home the following week to take on, UT – Permian Basin at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, and 12 p.m. Saturday.
