Silver City, N.M.- Colorado Mesa University’s pitching gave Western New Mexico University softball team problems at the plate as the Mustangs dropped both games last Sunday 8-0 and 9-1.
In the first game, WNMU (21-30, 17-19 RMAC) was able to come away with only three hits while CMU (34-7, 33-1 RMAC) brought in eleven.
The Mustangs only opportunity to put a run on the board was in the first inning. Krystal Castillo started things off with a single and would later advance to second thanks to Linzy Granger’s groundout. Mariangela Garcia took a 0-1 pitch to right field, pushing Castillo to third with one out. Mavericks pitcher, Surface, kept her cool and struck out the next two Mustang batters.
Both teams were unable to score a run through five innings until CMU’s Hodgson homered in the bottom of the fifth for two runs to put themselves in the lead, 2-0.
Momentum kept rolling in the sixth for the Mavericks as they put together an eight hit rally, scoring six runs. The game would end there as Colorado Mesa took the victory, 8-0.
Brooklyn Misenhimer, Castillo, and Garcia brought in the three hits for WNMU, while Hodgson, Kovac, and Phillis produced a two-hit game for CMU.
Starting pitcher Domi Shone (L, 12-13) took the loss for the Mustangs as she went 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs. Tiana Salazar came in to relieve for 0.1 innings, giving up two runs. Surface (W, 17-3) for the Mavericks earned herself the win, as she threw all five innings and struck out three.
Game two seemed similar as the first as CMU outhit WNMU 9-5.
In the top of the second inning, the Lady Mustangs came close to scoring the first run of the game. Thailyza Ramirez was able to reach first base on throwing error then moved to second on a Yasmeen Gastelum sacrifice bunt. A Lacy Granger single allowed Ramirez to move to third with one out. However, this was as close WNMU would be able to get as CMU’s pitcher Talamante struck out the next two batters.
Colorado Mesa’s offense opened up in the second, third, and fourth inning as they produced nine runs to make the score 9-0.
In the fifth inning, the Mustangs put a run on the scoreboard when Garcia hit a shot to shortstop but was unable to make the play. This allowed Madison Jones to score who was standing on third, making the score 9-1. The Mavericks stopped the rally short as they retired the next two batters with a strikeout and lineout, leading themselves to the victory 9-1.
Alicia Enriquez, Li. Granger, La. Granger, Garcia, and Jones brought in the five WNMU hits. For CMU, Hodgson and Pakes led the way with two hits each.
Pitcher MaryJo Granger (L, 1-12) started for the Mustangs going 2.2 innings and allowed six earned runs while Salazar came in to relieve. Salazar pitched 1.1 innings and only allowed one run. For the Mavericks, Talamente (W, 10-2) took home the win as she pitched all five innings, giving up one run.
The Western New Mexico University softball team will return home this Saturday and Sunday to finish off the regular season as the take on Regis University .
