SILVER CITY, N.M. – With the offense clicking and the pitching keeping Adams State University in check, the Western New Mexico University softball team rolled to a 5-1 and 18-6 doubleheader sweep Friday in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
In the first game, Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) limited the Lady Grizzlies (3-7, 1-3 RMAC) to just two hits. Meanwhile, the WNMU (6-11, 3-3 RMAC) offense got things going right away in the first. With Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) at second with a double, a fielding error on a ball put in play by Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) scored the run for the early 1-0 lead.
After ASU tied the game in the third, the Lady Mustangs went ahead for good in the fourth. With one out, Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) drilled a 1-0 pitch to left field for a solo home run and a 2-1 WNMU lead. The lead would increase to four in the fifth. Garcia drove in the first run with a double to left to plate Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) who singled, then a few batters later, Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) crushed a 2-2 pitch to left for a two-run home run and a 5-1 WNMU lead.
Austin would limit the Lady Grizzlies to just one hit over the final two innings to pick up the win (1-5) as she went all seven innings, giving up no earned runs and had six strikeouts. Kesley Sellars took the loss for ASU as she went five innings and allowed four earned runs.
Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Garcia and Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) all had two hit games, while Ramirez led in RBI with two.
In the second game, the offense delivered 13 hits and scored in all five innings for the run-rule victory.
After the Lady Grizzlies scored two in their half of the first inning, WNMU went to work in the home half. With a leadoff single by Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite), Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) would walk and after a fielder’s choice, a walk to Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) loaded the bases. Ramirez then came through with an RBI ground ball to third that was misplayed by the third baseman allowing the run to score and Ramirez to reach at first. A walk to Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) brought in another run and after Munoz also walked with the bases loaded, WNMU had the lead at 3-2. Following the walk to Munoz, ASU changed pitchers but the offense kept going as a wild pitch brought home Ramirez before a four-pitch walk to MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) re-loaded the bases. Another pitching change followed for ASU, but it didn’t matter. Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) would single just off the pitcher’s glove for an RBI. Enriquez added an RBI single to right which concluded the six run, three hit inning that had WNMU in front, 6-2.
In the second, Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tripled with two outs then scored on a passed ball to move the lead to 7-2. Following three runs for the Lady Grizzlies in the third, WNMU would answer right back. Martin singled and with two outs, Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tripled to right-center to score Enriquez who reached on a fielder’s choice. Garcia then hit a grounder to third, but the throw to first hit the dirt and allowed her to reach which scored Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad). Higgins added a single before a Ramirez first-pitch double to center plated two runs. The offense kept coming with Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) walking on four pitches and with Ramirez at third from a wild pitch, Munoz singled back through the box to score Ramirez for the 12-5 lead.
ASU would get one back in the fourth, but the Lady Mustangs were ready to end the game early. In the home half of the fourth, Enriquez, Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and Garcia all recorded singles with Garcia’s driving in Enriquez. After a walk to Higgins loaded the bases, Ramirez came through again hitting a 2-2 pitch to deep left-center to clear the bases and put WNMU ahead, 16-6.
The Lady Grizzlies tried to prolong the game in the fifth coming away with two runs with two outs before Austin came on in relief to get the last out for WNMU.
MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) started for WNMU and collected the win (2-4) after going 4.2 innings and allowing four earned runs. Kaycee Prevedel took the loss for ASU after working only a third of an inning and giving up five earned runs.
Eight Lady Mustangs had at least a hit with Enriquez leading the way with three. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Ramirez and Martin had two hit games apiece. Ramirez drove in six to lead the way. Erike Ecsedy led ASU with two hits and two RBI.
