LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Western New Mexico University softball team embarks on their annual trip to Las Vegas to compete in the Desert Stinger this weekend.
WNMU will face five teams (St. Edward’s, Western Washington, Northwest Nazarene, St. Cloud State and Cal State San Marcos) over the course of three days.
They will open with a game against St. Edward’s on Friday at 4:30 p.m. All times for the games are listed in Pacific Time. The Lady Hilltoppers are 3-5 overall and split in their last two games against Texas A&M-Kingsville. They faced RMAC foe Colorado Mines in two games earlier this season winning the first, 5-4, before falling in the second, 4-5, in eight innings. Breah Whitten leads the offense hitting .500. Five other players hit for over .300. In the circle, Katelyn Klug (2.82) and Sarah Debrow (2.85) each have nearly identical ERAs. Klug has one win while Debrow adds two.
Later on Friday WNMU will play against Assistant Coach Jessica Carey’s former team in Western Washington at 7 p.m. The Lady Vikings are 3-3 having lost their last two against Hawaii-Pacific. They will play two games earlier in the day on Friday before playing the Lady Mustangs. Emily Benson holds a .438 batting average to lead the team. Sixth other players have at least a .300 average. Alexie Levin leads in home runs (2) and RBI (6). In the circle, Makinlee Sellevold has a 3.86 ERA and a pair of victories.
The first game on Saturday will be against Northwest Nazarene at 11:30 a.m. The Lady Crusaders have played just two games, dropping both to William Jessup. Ashley Pesek is currently batting .500, while Brianna Kinghorn leads in home runs (1) and RBI (3). In the circle, Pesek and Taylor Crabb have each seen time, with Pesek logging a 4.85 ERA and Crabb at 5.44.
WNMU will play back-to-back as later on Saturday at 2 p.m. they will matchup against St. Cloud State. The games at the Desert Stinger will be the first of the season for the Lady Huskies. Last year they went 14-28-1. They have five returning seniors.
The final game of the tournament the Lady Mustangs will go against Cal State San Marcos at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Cal State San Marcos is 5-3 on the season with a pair of wins last time out against CSU Dominguez Hills. Robyn Alvara leads the team with a .455 batting average. Four other players hit over .300, while Naomi Amu leads in home runs (2) and RBI (10). In the circle, Katie Wilkinson has a 1.60 ERA and a pair of wins. Ashley Dagenais has three wins and a 2.37 ERA.
WNMU enters the weekend 2-4 overall coming off of an 8-5 win against Oklahoma Panhandle State. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) leads four Lady Mustangs hitting for over .300 with a .529 batting average. She has four doubles and five RBI, along with six runs scored. Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) adds a .474 batting average with two doubles, two triples and four RBI. Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) is also hitting over .400 with a .438 average that includes three runs scored and a stolen base. Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) currently holds a .364 average with a double, home run and a team-high tying seven RBI. Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) also has seven RBI.
In the circle, four pitchers have seen time. MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) has a 5.28 ERA in four appearances. She has logged the most innings (15.1) and also has seven strikeouts. Chantel Purcella (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) has both wins in five appearances. She has logged 8.2 innings, while Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) has a save in five appearances and 11.2 innings. She leads the team in strikeouts with 10.
