SILVER CITY, N.M. – Keeping the momentum from a pair of wins yesterday, the Western New Mexico University softball team pulled out another sweep winning each by a run, 3-2 and 4-3, Saturday against Adams State University in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
Just like the first game Friday, it was a pitcher’s duel throughout most of the game. WNMU (8-11, 5-3 RMAC) broke through first with a pair of runs in the third inning. Kymbra Espinosa (Capitan, NM/Capitan ) began the frame with a single. Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) added a single and then a bunt single by Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) quickly loaded the bases. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) then hit a fly ball to right field that the right fielder wasn’t able to catch, but turned it into a fielder’s choice recording an out at second. In the process Espinosa scored for the first run of the game. Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) wasted little time driving in the next run as she hit the first pitch to center for a double and a 2-0 WNMU lead.
ASU (3-9, 1-5 RMAC) would plate a run in the fourth and it would remain 2-1 into the seventh. With the Lady Mustangs just one out away from the win, Tayler Else hit a solo home run for the Lady Grizzlies to tie the game and send it into extra innings.
The Lady Grizzlies threatened in the eighth loading the bases with one out. Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) then posted a pair of pop outs to get out of the jam. The offense then went to work with Enriquez singling and moving to second on a sacrifice. With two outs, Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) hit a single to left to score Enriquez for the 3-2 victory.
WNMU outhit ASU, 9-3, with Enriquez, Higgins and Martin posting two hits apiece. Austin went all eight innings for the win (2-5) in the circle for the Lady Mustangs as she allowed just two earned runs and had seven strikeouts. Kelsey Sellers ended up with the loss for the Lady Grizzlies with three earned runs.
In the second game, the Lady Grizzlies broke through first win a pair of runs in the second. It would remain that way into the fifth when WNMU scored all of their runs. Martin led off with a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) walked and then a single by Garcia loaded the bases. Higgins came through with a big double to center to score two and tie the game at 2-all. Following a pitching change, Ramirez jumped all over the new pitcher as she ripped a double to right that scored two more runs to give WNMU a 4-2 lead.
ASU would come back with a solo home run in the sixth to get to within one. After MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) started and went the first five innings, Austin came on in relief and allowed just one hit and one walk over the final two innings to preserve the victory.
WNMU outhit ASU, 8-5, with Ramirez tallying a pair of hits. Seven Lady Mustangs had at least a hit. Kelsi Kautz tallied two RBI for ASU. In the circle, MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) collected her third win (3-4) of the season giving up just three earned runs on four hits in five innings. Austin posted her second save of the season with her two innings of shutout work. Kaycee Prevedel took the loss for ASU as she worked 4.1 innings and gave up four earned runs.
