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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Softball Seniors 19

Softball

Softball Hosts Angelo State for Senior Series

Softball

Softball Hosts Angelo State for Senior Series

Silver City, N.M. – For the second time in as many weeks, the Western New Mexico Mustang Softball team will have the home field advantage as they welcome the Rambelles of Angelo State to Silver City this weekend.
 
The Mustangs (5-29, 4-20 LSC) grabbed their fourth win in conference play, fifth overall, last weekend in game one against Eastern New Mexico. It took an extra inning and close call at home plate, but the Mustangs pulled out the 4-3 win over the Greyhounds.
 
Senior, Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) came up big not once but twice for her team. A solo shot over right center field in the bottom of the fifth, tied the game at two. Second to bat in the bottom of the fifth, it only took one pitch for Maldonado to send the ball over the left field fence for her second homerun of the game, scoring the tying run to send the game into extra innings.
 
A costly error by the Greyhounds allowed Tycee Coplan (Taylor, AZ/Snowflake) to get on base, and advance to second as the ball rolled into the outfield. Grisdey Paredes – Alvarez was able to advance two base as well, bringing her to third and in scoring position to win the game. With Marina Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) up to bat and only one out, a grounder to the short stop forced Paredes – Alvarez towards home sliding in for the fourth and final run.
 
Day two, the teams lucked out as the cloudy weather passed without causing a delay.
 
In search of redemption, the Greyhounds got on the board first in the second, adding two more in the third. Each team tallied three runs in the sixth, putting the Mustangs within two. Unable to tie, Eastern took game two 7-5.
 
Eastern's hot hitting continued into game three, scoring in all but two innings. Their three insurance runs in the seventh secured the 7-2 win and the 2-1 series win.
 
LOOKING AHEAD:
Head Coach Elsa Cocker will come face to face with her alma mater this weekend. The former Rambelle was an All-American at third base, voted Lone Star Conference player of the year and was named to the NFCA South Central All- Region First Team as a senior.
The Rambelles (28-17, 13-13 LSC) sit sixth in the current conference standings, and enter the weekend coming off a big series win over Texas A&M – Kingsville.
Under the direction of long-time head Coach Travis Scott, the Rambelles hold a 9-0 record over the Mustangs dating back to first meeting on May 11, 2007. The Mustangs came close last season but fell short 4-3 in extra innings in the series finale in San Angelo.
As a team the Rambelles rank sixth in batting average with a .300, while the pitching lineup maintains a 4.58 ERA.
Leading the way in the batter's box, is junior Courtney Barnhill. Fifth in LSC standings with a .391 batting average, and a .703 slugging percentage the outfielder has notched 44 runs in 138 at bats, with 14 doubles, a triple and nine homeruns.
In the circle, sophomore Meagan Hill leads the pitching lineup with 3.90 ERA for a 13-7 record. With 20 starts and 31 appearances, Hill holds her opponents to a .267 batting average, while allowing 129 hits, 73 runs and striking out 100 batters so far this season.
 
Game times are set for 12 and 2 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a single game at 12 p.m. on Friday. This weekend also marks the final home games for the Mustangs. Six seniors will be recognized before Friday's game.
 
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Ariana Maldonado

#9 Ariana Maldonado

OF
5' 3"
Junior
R/R
Tycee Coplan

#2 Tycee Coplan

UT
5' 5"
Junior
L/R
Marina Garcia

#22 Marina Garcia

OF
5' 5"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Ariana Maldonado

#9 Ariana Maldonado

5' 3"
Junior
R/R
OF
Tycee Coplan

#2 Tycee Coplan

5' 5"
Junior
L/R
UT
Marina Garcia

#22 Marina Garcia

5' 5"
Freshman
R/R
OF