LAS VEGAS, Nev. – After trailing by five early against Northwest Nazarene University, the Western New Mexico University softball team rallied to claim a 7-5 victory. In the second game, St. Cloud State came away with a 7-2 victory during the second day of the Desert Stinger Saturday.
WNMU (3-7) looked to be in trouble in the first game against Northwest Nazarene as they fell behind 5-0 after two innings as all of the runs scored were unearned.
The Lady Mustangs came back in the fourth with three runs. Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) ignited the frame with a one out single. Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) added a single in front of a three-run home run to left by Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) leaving WNMU down by just two, 5-3.
WNMU drew even in the fifth. Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) reached on an error then advanced to second on a sacrifice by Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad). Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) walked and after Othon walked to load the bases, Garcia singled up the middle to score two and tie the game at five.
The Lady Mustangs continued with the momentum in the sixth. Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) got things going with a one out single. Enriquez reached on an error and then a single by Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) on a bunt loaded the bases. Higgins came through with a single to left that ended up scoring a pair of runs with one coming in on a throwing error by the left fielder to give WNMU a 7-5 lead.
While the offense was making a comeback, Chantel Purcella (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque) was lights out in the circle as she came on in relief of MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) to toss five shutout innings allowing just six hits for her third victory (3-0) of the season.
WNMU collected seven hits led by two from Garcia. Schuster and Kinghorn led Northwest Nazarene with two hits apiece. In the circle, Pesek went all seven innings for the Lady Crusaders allowing four earned runs.
In the second game, WNMU was limited to four hits and fell behind early against St. Cloud State. The Lady Huskies scored three in the first inning and never looked back. WNMU got on the board for the first time in the second.
Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) singled to open the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice by Othon. Garcia ripped a single to put runners at the corners. Munoz then brought a run home on a fielder’s choice groundout leaving WNMU down two, 3-1.
It would remain that way into the fifth when St. Cloud State recorded four runs to open a 7-1 lead.
WNMU tallied their last run in the sixth. Ramirez led off the inning reaching on an error. Othon singled and after Garcia walked the bases were loaded. The next ball put in play was a double play, but allowed Ramirez to score to provide the final margin of 7-2.
Ramirez, Othon, Garcia and Madison Jones (Lakewood, CA/Lakewood) accounted for the four Lady Mustang hits. Coletto led the Lady Huskies with two hits.
Hedstrom picked up the win for St. Cloud State going five innings. Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) started the game for WNMU and ended up with the loss (0-1) allowing five earned runs in 4.1 innings. MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) pitched the final 1.2 innings allowing two unearned runs.
WNMU will conclude the Desert Stinger on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. Pacific Time against Cal State San Marcos.
