LOS LUNAS, N.M. — The WNMU Mustangs battled hard but came up short against UCCS, falling 7-4 in a clash on day 2 of the South Central Region Tournament on Saturday.

The Mustangs made their mark in the seventh inning, firing off all four of their runs powered by a pair of home runs, but it wasn't quite enough to overcome the early lead established by UCCS's 13-hit performance.

Facing UCCS, Western New Mexico found themselves in a tough spot early on. The Mountain Lions jumped ahead in the second inning with a two-run homer from Laynee Case, setting the score at 2-0. They continued to press in the third, adding a pair of runs with Halley Redd's double, stretching their lead to 4-0.

UCCS widened the gap to 5-0 in the fourth with a bases-loaded walk. The Mustangs had a hard time converting base runners into runs until their spirited rally in the seventh inning. Lanessa Morales (Vail, AZ/Cienega High School) sparked the comeback with a three-run homer, cutting the deficit to 7-3. Abbi Markus (Sun City, AZ/Willow Canyon High School) followed suit with a solo home run, bringing the score to 7-4.

Despite their late-game rally, Western New Mexico couldn't close the gap, ending the game with a 7-4 loss to UCCS.

Lanessa Morales (Vail, AZ/Cienega High School) shone at the plate, smashing a home run and driving in three RBIs in her four trips to the plate. Jenna Peters (Lake Elsinore, CA/Temescal Canyon High School) chipped in with a hit and moved runners three times in her three at-bats. Markus made her presence felt with a solo homer, an RBI, and a run scored. On defense, Hannah Martinez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad High School) was solid at third base, racking up four assists.

***

Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).