NMHU Takes Both From Softball on Senior Day

SILVER CITY, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University was able to start early in both games to take a pair from the Western New Mexico University softball team, 10-7 and 14-2 (five innings) Sunday in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action. It was also senior day for Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) and Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) as they were honored between games.

The first game featured a little bit of everything with the teams combining for 17 runs, 23 hits and 11 errors. Each team opened with a run in the first inning as NMHU (19-25, 13-18 RMAC) cashed in an error earlier in the inning. WNMU (20-27, 17-19 RMAC) answered back with Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) drilling a triple and then coming home on an RBI single by Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) to tie the game at one after one. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad)’s triple was the start of a huge first game that included another triple, a home run and a single as she finished just a double short of the cycle. She would later get a double in the second game to get a cycle combined in both games.

The Cowgirls pushed five runs across in the third, just to watch the Lady Mustangs answer again in the home half. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Garcia and Higgins all singled to load the bases. MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) delivered a single to right field to plate a pair of runs. After an error re-loaded the bases, Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) singled in two more runs to leave WNMU down just one, 6-5, after three.

Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) brought the Lady Mustangs all the way back as she led off the fourth inning with a solo home run on a 1-0 pitch to knot the game at six. The teams traded runs in the fifth with WNMU answering the Cowgirls run with an RBI triple by Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad).

NMHU, though, kept coming with two in the sixth and then another in the seventh to open a 10-7 lead. The Lady Mustangs had their best chance to come back in the sixth, but weren’t able to plate a run as the Cowgirls would hold on for the three-run victory.

WNMU held the 12-11 edge in hits, with four Lady Mustangs posting multi-hit games led by Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad)’s 4-for-5 game. Garcia, Higgins and MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) also added two hit games apiece. Destiny Navarro led NMHU with four RBI all coming on a grand slam.

In the circle, Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) started and went four innings allowing five earned runs. MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tossed the final three innings and ended up with the loss (6-10) despite only giving up one earned run. Jessica Brink went all seven innings to grab the win (11-10) for NMHU.

In the second game, the Cowgirls scored at least a run in all five innings to force the run-rule victory. The big inning came in the third with NMHU plating nine runs on seven hits and also took advantage of an error to score six unearned runs.

WNMU put together a two-run, four-hit rally in the fifth with Garcia and Higgins coming through with RBI singles. NMHU held a 15-8 advantage on hits as six Lady Mustangs had at least a hit. Higgins and Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) each recorded two hit games. Navarro and Marissa Valencia led the Cowgirls with three RBI apiece.

In the circle, Jacquelyn Wood picked up the win (3-4) for NMHU going all five innings. Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) started for WNMU and ended up with the loss (1-5) giving up two earned runs in one inning of work. MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tossed 3.2 innings allowing four earned runs and Austin also tossed a third of an inning giving up four runs (all unearned).

WNMU remains in seventh in the RMAC standings as several teams are in the hunt for the final few spots. Colorado Christian is in sixth at 15-13, and then behind WNMU sits four teams battling for possible tournament spots. UC-Colorado Springs is in eighth with a game still to play today. NMHU moves to ninth in the standings, while Fort Lewis and Chadron State are also still in the hunt. The top eight teams make the field that will be played at the top seed.

WNMU will close the regular season on the road at Regis beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.