SPEARFISH, S.D. – A 25-run output helped power the Western New Mexico University softball team to a doubleheader RMAC sweep over Black Hills State University by scores of 7-4 and 18-7 (six innings) on Saturday.
In the first game, WNMU (12-17, 9-9 RMAC) broke through first with three runs in the third. With one out, Davi Martin (Silver City, NM/Silver City) singled and moved to second on an error by the third baseman. Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) added a single and then a single by Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) scored Martin for the first run of the game. Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) singled to bring in Enriquez before Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) drove in the last run to make it 3-0 WNMU after three.
In the fourth, Kymbra Espinosa (Capitan, NM/Capitan ) singled and after moving to second on a wild pitch, she would come home to score on a ball put in play by Martin that was misplayed by the pitcher to make it a 4-0 lead.
BHSU (4-15, 3-11 RMAC) answered back with three runs in the home half of the fourth to get back to within one at 4-3. The Lady Mustangs got a run back in the fifth as Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) hit a sacrifice fly to score Higgins who tripled for the 5-3 lead.
WNMU came through with two more in the seventh as Garcia hit a two-run home run to score Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) who opened the inning with a single to give the Lady Mustangs a 7-3 lead and eventual 7-4 win.
WNMU outhit BHSU 9-8 as the Lady Yellow Jackets committed five errors. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), Garcia and Higgins had two hits apiece, while Garcia had three RBI. In the circle, Mikayla Austin (Florence, AZ/Florence ) started and went 4.2 innings to pick up her third (3-7) win of the season as she allowed three earned runs and added five strikeouts. MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tossed the final 2.1 innings and allowed just one earned run to collect her second save of the season.
In the second game, WNMU started out right away plating two in the first inning when Garcia singled and Higgins drilled a two-run homer for the early lead. The Lady Mustangs would score a run in all six innings.
The Lady Yellow Jackets responded with four runs in the home half to take a 4-2 lead. Martin recorded an RBI groundout in the second to trim the deficit to one, 4-3. BHSU answered that run with their own in the home half to take a 5-3 lead after two. WNMU then took the lead for good in the third.
The Lady Mustangs would score eight runs on eight hits and also take advantage of three errors. Ramirez drove in the first two runs with a single. Mary Othon (Tucson, AZ/Desert View High School) added an RBI double, MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) an RBI single, Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) an RBI single, Garcia an RBI single and Higgins added an RBI single after Enriquez scored on an error that had WNMU in front, 11-5.
In the fourth, two more runs would come home for the Lady Mustangs with Enriquez coming through with a two-run single to left-center to expand the lead to 13-5.
BHSU collected two runs in the home half, but that would be the final runs of the game for the home team with WNMU getting five runs over the final two innings for the run-rule victory. In the fifth, Othon delivered a two-out double to right-center. In the sixth, Enriquez opened the scoring in the frame with an RBI single. Enriquez and Martin came home on an error by the third baseman before Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) scored on a wild pitch to provide the final margin of 18-7.
WNMU outhit BHSU, 19-7, with Othon going 4-for-4. Garcia, Higgins and Ramirez added three hits apiece, while Enriquez and Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) posted two hit games. In the circle, MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) started and went 1.2 innings allowing two earned runs. Austin came on in relief to tally her second win of the day (4-7) going 4.1 innings and allowing two earned runs.
WNMU and BHSU will conclude their four-game series on Sunday beginning with another doubleheader at 11 a.m.
