SPEARFISH, S.D. – The offense kept rolling Sunday for the Western New Mexico University softball team as they recorded 24 runs to tally another sweep of Black Hills State University, 11-8 and 13-11, in RMAC play to take all four games in the series.
WNMU (14-17, 11-9 RMAC) came out swinging right away plating three runs in the first frame. Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) drove home Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) who tripled earlier in the inning to open the scoring. A few batters later, Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) crushed a two-run homer to score Garcia and make it 3-0.
BHSU (4-17, 3-13 RMAC) came back with a run in the home half and it would stay 3-1 into the third. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) and Garcia singled and after Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Then after an error brought in a run, Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) doubled to plate two more to give WNMU a 6-1 lead.
Just like throughout the games on Saturday, the Lady Yellow Jacket offense kept firing back. BHSU scored two in the home half leaving the Lady Mustangs ahead three, 6-3, after three.
Garcia knocked in the seventh run for WNMU in the fourth with a single to score Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) who doubled. A four-run fifth awaited the Lady Mustangs the next inning. An error brought home Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) who drew a pinch-hit walk. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Enriquez and Garcia all added RBI hits the rest of the inning to move WNMU in front, 11-3.
Trying to finish the game with the run-rule win, BHSU came back with three in the home half. The Lady Yellow Jackets would add two more in the seventh, but it wouldn’t be enough with the Lady Mustangs coming away with the 11-8 victory.
WNMU outhit BHSU, 13-10, with Garcia tallying a four hit game, along with a pair of RBI. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) and Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) added two hit games apiece. In the circle, MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) came on in relief and went 3.2 innings allowing four earned runs to collect her fifth win (5-6) of the season. Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) started the game and then came on in the final inning to get her third save of the season after going 3.1 innings allowing three earned runs.
In the second game, WNMU jumped out early again in the first inning plating five runs. Garcia opened the scoring with an RBI double to plate Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) who reached on an error. Othon later singled to score a pair of runs driving in Ramirez who reached on an error and Garcia. Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) drove in the final two runs singling in Othon and Munoz who had singled to take a 5-0 lead.
BHSU would score one in the first, just to watch WNMU answer that in the second. Higgins delivered the RBI hit that brought in Enriquez as she walked to lead off the inning. The Lady Yellow Jackets rallied to get two in both the second and third innings leaving WNMU in front, 6-5, heading into the fifth.
Higgins led off the frame with a solo home run. Othon singled home Ramirez after she doubled and Enriquez drove in the final run of the inning with a single to bring in Othon to boost the lead back to four, 9-5.
In the sixth, Garcia opened with a triple and quickly came home on a double by Higgins. After a groundout, Othon connected on a two-run homer to score Higgins and push WNMU to a 12-5 lead.
BHSU refused to go away scoring two in the sixth and then tried to rally in the seventh after WNMU scored one more run on an RBI double by Higgins. With the Lady Mustangs holding a six-run lead, BHSU posted three quick runs in the final inning as the first two base runners reached before a three-run homer. MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) then came on in relief and allowed one more run before collecting the save.
WNMU outhit BHSU 14-12, with Higgins tallying four hits and four RBI. Othon added three hits and five RBI. In the circle, Aker started and went 2.1 innings allowing two earned runs. Austin came on in relief and tossed 3.2 innings giving up six earned runs to get her fifth (5-7) win of the season as she also added seven strikeouts. MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tossed the final inning to get the save, her third of the season.
WNMU returns home this coming weekend as they will face Colorado Mesa University beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.
