Silver City, NM – The Western New Mexico University softball team will open conference play this Friday at home against in-state rivals Eastern New Mexico University.
Still in search of their first win, the Lady Mustangs are coming off a busy road trip. They opened their season in Las Vegas, Nevada on Feb. 3 as they competed in the Desert Stinger Tournament. Here, WNMU was unable to pick up a win as they went 0-5; losing to Humboldt State (1-12), Azusa Pacific (4-12), Chico State (2-8), Hawaii at Hilo (4-6) and Sonoma State (0-7).
After the tournament, the Mustangs faced off against Hawaii at Hilo for a two-game rematch on Feb. 7. The game took place in Henderson, Nevada where Western fell short in both games, 5-10 and 5-8.
On Feb. 9 WNMU traveled to St. George, Utah for another tournament – Dixie State Tournament. In their first three games, the Mustangs dropped to Western Washington (0-8), Concordia University (6-8) and Central Washington (5-11). In the fourth contest, Western put up a fight against Colorado State-Pueblo as the game went into extra innings, but CSP would eventually take the victory, 3-4. The Lady Mustangs were scheduled to play UC-Colorado Springs and Dixie State on the final day of the tournament, but due to rain, the games were cancelled.
Through 11 games, junior Mariangela Garcia leads the team in batting average with .382 followed by senior Linzy Granger with .371. Senior Lacy Granger is third in batting with an average of .314. In the pitching game, three Mustangs have made starts; redshirt senior Domi Shone, freshman Lyana Waddell and Thalia O’Neill. Shone owns an ERA of 6.45 and a 0-5 record. Waddell throws a 6.15 ERA and holds a 0-4 record. With an ERA of 6.15 and 0-2 record is O’Neill.
ENMU, who stands on an overall record of 3-9, is fresh off a tournament. In the Grand Prairie Tournament, the Greyhounds won their first two games but came up short in the last three.
With a record of 0-11, the Lady Mustangs return home for the first time this season as they match up against Eastern New Mexico University this Friday with the game beginning at 2 p.m.
