Silver City, N.M. – This past weekend the Western New Mexico University softball team picked up their first win of the season against Embry Riddle after winning 8-5 in the first game. The second game belonged to the Eagles as they won 6-0.
In the first game of the second inning, the Mustangs earned the first run of the game thanks to a sacrifice fly from sophomore Yasmeen Gastelum to score senior Lacy Granger. Embry Riddle answered with two runs in the bottom inning to take the lead 2-1.
With runners on first and third in the third inning, Lacy Granger doubled in the gap to score senior Linzy Granger which tied the game at two. Following the bottom half of the inning with two runners on base, the Eagles offense came up big as Hannah Deluna homered to score three, putting them in front 5-2.
In the fourth, Mustang’s sophomore Carolyn Castillo, who doubled to left, was brought in by a Linzy Granger single. Another run was added as sophomore Bailey McFarland batted in sophomore Deidre Vega, cutting the deficit to 5-4.
Western’s offensive momentum carried into the fifth as Vega singled up the middle to score Lacy Granger, knotting the game up 5-5.
The sixth inning gave WNMU the lead with some extra runs. With two outs, junior Mariangela Garcia singled and later crossed home plate when Lacy Granger doubled. Sophomore Ariana Maldonado doubled to left to score Lacy Granger. Gastelum singled which brought in Maldonado, making it the last score of the inning. Mustangs held the lead 8-5.
Freshman pitcher Lyana Waddell was able to keep Embry Riddle scoreless in the sixth and seventh inning, giving Western the victory, 8-5.
Lacy Granger led the team offensively as she went 4-4 and brought in two RBIs. Linzy Granger, Maldonado and Gastelum followed with two hits apiece. Waddell picked up the win as she threw all seven innings, allowed 10 hits and struck out one.
In the second game, the Eagles scored two runs in the third inning and tacked on four more in the fourth.
The Mustangs’ offense was unable to pick up a run the entire game. The closest they came to scoring came in the seventh inning. With two outs, Gastelum singled up the middle and would advance to second when Castillo drilled a ball to center. After a Vega hit, WNMU had bases loaded. However, this rally would be cut short when a ground out ended the game giving Embry Riddle the victory 6-0.
Offensively for WNMU, Gastelum and Vega both came away with two hits each. In the circle, starting pitcher Thailia O’Neill tossed 3.2 innings and gave up six runs.
With a 1-27 overall record, the Mustangs will return home this Friday and Saturday as they match up against Tarleton State University for a Lone Star Conference play.
