TUCSON, AZ – Off to their best start under third year head coach Elsa Cocker, the Western New Mexico Mustang Softball continues their road swing this weekend at the 2020 D2 Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona. Their shortest trip of the season will be a bright spot for WNMU as they prepare to take on tough opponents over the next three days.

COURTYARD CLASSIC RECAP:
After a successful opening weekend, Mustang softball traveled to St. George, Utah for the final production of the Dixie State Courtyard Classic. Against the Argonauts of Notre Dame de Namur, a few errors early on gave way to unearned runs. It took up until the bottom of the seventh inning for a bomb off the bat of Miranda Simjian (Humboldt, Arizona/Prescott HS) to put a run on the board for WNMU. A wild pitch then sent Jessica Martinez (Bayard, N.M/Cobre HS), scoring the second run before the final out.

Errors continued to be a deciding factor in games two and three, as the Mustangs struggled to take care of the ball on both ends.

Dropping the first three matches of the tournament, the dust finally settled as WNMU put together a series of runs in multiple innings, coming from behind to take a 7-5 win over Fort Lewis. After taking a 2-0 lead, FLC rallied off five runs in their half of the second inning to take the lead. Drawing the pair of walks, followed by a sacrifice fly, WNMU tacked on three more runs to tie it up. With a double to left center, Kaila Burnett (Nanakuli, HI/Nanakuli High & Intermediate School ) single handedly drove in the go ahead runs, securing the win.

Before heading back to New Mexico, WNMU had one more opponent to face in the Wildcats of Central Washington. In a game that saw three home runs, one came off the bat of Samantha Corral (El Paso, TX/Socorro HS ) in the fourth inning adding two RBIs to her stat line. Corral came in clutch again later in the game, singling down the right field line just enough to score two runners, capping off the tournament with a 5-3 victory.

The Mustangs finished the weekend, 2-3 overall.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:

University of Hawaii at Hilo – Thurs. Feb 13, 12 p.m. MST
At the same tournament last weekend as the Mustangs, the Vulcans finished the Courtyard Classic with a 1-4 record, with their only win coming over common opponent Central Washington.
A team that has historic success, UHH has won 30 or more games in four of the past five seasons, but has yet to land them a spot in the NCAA postseason. With 14 returnees, three of which have started in the circle, and seven will continue their senior campaign this weekend.
Amongst the returnees, are All-Pac-West picks Kiarra Lincoln and Brinell Kaleikini. Lincoln has established herself in the infield, whereas Kaleikini has rotated around for the Vulcans, mostly spending time behind home plate. Picked to finish second in their respective preseason poll, UHH will hope to make a better showing at the Cactus Classic this weekend.
 
Colorado Mesa – Thurs. Feb. 13, 2:30 p.m. MST
In a short turnaround, the Mustangs will take on a familiar foe in the Colorado Mesa Mavericks for game two of the Cactus Classic. A consistent name amongst the top teams in Division II, the Maverick sported the opposite record from UHH, finishing their opening weekend with a 4-1 record. One of the those wins came against the Vulcans on the final day, thanks to a grand slam from Bailey Kleespies. Kleespies was a major factor in the Mavericks securing their two wins on Saturday, coming in clutch in tight situations.
Picked to finish second in their respective preseason poll- despite winning the past five regular season crowns – they fell just two points shy of Dixie State who was chosen as the favorite. Guided by second year head coach Erik Kozel, CMU finished 2019 with a 45-11 record, qualifying for the NCAA Division II tournament for the fourth straight year.
 
Lindenwood  - Fri.  Feb. 14, 3 p.m. MST
WNMU will open day two against the Lions of Lindenwood. While most teams have a couple of games under their belt, the Lions will have their first tests of the 2020 season this weekend at the Cactus Classic.
Led by fourth year head coach Liz Kelly, Lindenwood finished their 2019 campaign 29-17, and 14-12 in the GLVC, landing them 8^th in the preseason poll. Senior Stormee Galka returns for the Lions as a pitcher/utility player after earning All-MIAA First Team honors as a junior. Galka started all 46 matches, and was featured on the mound 28 times last year. Her .394 batting average led the team, and dominated on the mound with a school high 17 wins, for a 3.06 ERA.
This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
 
Simon Fraser – Fri. Feb. 14, 5:30 p.m. MST
Traveling all the way from Burnaby, British Columbia are the softball Clan from Simon Fraser. They will enter the weekend after going 3-2 at the Desert Singer in their opening weekend. All three of their wins came in dominant fashion, surpassing ten or more runs against their opponents.
Voted to finish 8^th out of eight teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason poll, the Clan hoped to make a statement early on and change their fate. Junior, Alex Ogg was stellar for SFU recording 14 hits in 19 at bats, leading the way with five doubles, a triple and seven RBIs to hit .737.
Sophomore, Anissa Zacharczuk made three appearances in the circle, tossing a total of 15.2 innings, averaging a 2.68 ERA with two strikeouts and a 2-0 record.
 
California – Univ. (PA) – Sat. Feb. 15, 10 a.m.
The Mustangs will close out their preseason facing off with the second set of Vulcans, this time from California University of Pennsylvania. Just like the Lindenwood, the Vulcans have yet to play against anyone other than themselves this season.
Finishing 2019 14-22 overall, and 10-10 in league play, this year's squad will be fairly young with only one senior. Returning though is Brooke Wilson who was the team's second leading hitter, named NFCA First Team All-Region and All-PSAC West First team as a sophomore. When Wilson wasn't catching behind home plate, she was in front leading the team in doubles and runs scored.