Lake Elsinore, CA. — The Western New Mexico University softball team battled throughout Friday afternoon but ultimately fell to Western Oregon, 8–6, in their third game of the West Coast Challenge.

The Mustangs (3–4) matched the Wolves with nine hits and erased a three-run deficit midway through the game, but Western Oregon used a four-run seventh inning to secure the victory and improve to 3–5 on the season.

After four scoreless innings, Western Oregon opened the scoring with a run in the top of the fourth and added two more in the fifth to take a 3–0 lead. Western New Mexico responded immediately in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run rally. Ciara Spencer (Gallup, NM/Gallup High School) delivered a two-run single to get the Mustangs on the board, while Lanessa Morales (Vail, AZ/Cienega High School) doubled in a run to tie the game. Abbi Markus (Sun City, AZ/Willow Canyon High School) followed with a two-run single to give WNMU its first lead of the afternoon, 4–3.

The Wolves answered with a run in the sixth to even the score before breaking the tie in the top of the seventh. Western Oregon plated four runs in the inning to regain control at 8–4.

Western New Mexico continued to fight in its final at-bat. Marleigh Manns (Los Lunas, NM/Los Lunas High School) led off the seventh with a solo home run, and Spencer later drove in her second run of the game to cut the deficit to two. However, the Mustangs were unable to bring the tying run to the plate as the rally came to an end.

Spencer finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Markus also drove in a pair of runs. Morales added a double and an RBI, and Manns' home run was the Mustangs' lone long ball of the contest.

In the circle, Alixe De Anda (San Tan Valley, AZ/Red Mountain High School) threw four innings and allowed one run before giving way to Alyssa Torres (Tucson, AZ/Tucson Magnet High School) and Haiven Schoolcraft (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad High School) out of the bullpen. Abby Stansbury earned the win for Western Oregon after a strong relief outing.

Western New Mexico will continue tournament play today, in Lake Elsinore, CA against Cal State East Bay at 5:30PM MT as the Mustangs look to build on their offensive performance moving forward.

 

***

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).