The NMHU Softball team lost both games of their final double header in the series against the Cougars of Colorado Christian University on Sunday, 3/11. The Cowgirls earned a 1-3 split in the four game series, by picking up a win on Saturday, 3/10. In game one of Sunday's double header, the Cougars rode a one-run lead from the third inning to take a 6-4 victory. The Cougars' bats came alive in the second and fourth innings of game two and led to a 12-3 victory after five innings of play. With the losses in Sunday's double-header the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Shellie Broyles, fall to a 8-6 record in the RMAC and 13-11 in overall play.
In game one, the Cowgirls jumped out to 2-0 lead in the first inning after
Devon Paiz scored from third on an error by the first baseman and
Jenelle Klassen drove in
Brittany Potter with an RBI single to right field. The Cougars tied the game up at two apiece with runs on an RBI ground out and wild pitch. Colorado Christian was next to score in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI single to right-center field. After three innings of play the Cougars were up 3-2.
The Cowgirls answered back in the top of the fifth inning with a run to tie the game up at 3-3 when
Brittany Potter hit a solo homerun over the wall in right-center field. However, the Cougars came up with another run in the bottom half of the inning from another RBI ground out to score the runner from third base. After five innings of play the Cougars still held a one run lead, 4-3.
The Cowgirls tied the game up again in the sixth inning.
Molly McDougall hit a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed
Jenelle Klassen to score from third base. Then the Cougars answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning from a two-RBI double to right field. The Cowgirls weren't able to generate any runs in the seventh inning so the Cougars won game one on Sunday, 6-4.
Jessica Brink (3-1) was credited with the loss for the Cowgirls in game one. She threw a complete six innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 32 batters. Brink allowed six runs on 14 hits, struck out one batter, and walked one.
Despite the quick start the Cowgirls' offense never really got going in game one. The combined for a .208 team batting average, with four runs on five hits and a homerun.
Brittany Potter and
Jenelle Klassen were the offensive leaders in the game. Potter was perfect 3-3 at the plate, with two runs scored, one RBI and a solo homerun. Klassen hit 1-2 with one RBI and one run scored.
In game two on Sunday, the Cowgirls again scored in the first inning when
Brittany Potter hit her second solo homerun of the day. The Cougars matched the Cowgirls with a run of their own in the bottom of the first from an RBI single. The Cowgirls got two runs in the top of the second inning.
Tess Oliphant hit an RBI double down the left field line that allowed
Halie Thompson to score from first base and
Krista Mattice hit an RBI single to left-center field to score
Molly McDougall. Again Colorado Christian answered back, this time with four runs of their own. The Cougars scored their runs from a two-RBI double to center field, an RBI single and a throwing error. After two innings of play the Cougars had a 5-3 lead.
Colorado Christian would put together multiple run innings in the fourth and fifth. In the fourth inning the Cougars really did some damage with five runs on four hits. Then they ended the game early with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Colorado Christian won the game 12-3 after five innings of play.
Erica Wieck (5-8) was credited with the loss for the Cowgirls in game two. She came into the game in the second inning to relieve
Jenelle Klassen and threw three innings from the pitcher's circle. Wieck faced 22 batters, allowed nine runs on eight hits, with only six runs earned. She also struck out one and walked two.
Jenelle Klassen started the game for the Cowgirls and threw one and a third innings. She faced nine batters, struck out one, walked one, and allowed three runs on three hits.
The Cowgirls' offensive hit better in game two on Sunday, combining for a .300 team batting average. They were only able to score three runs off of six hits, with two doubles and a solo homerun.
Brittany Potter,
Tess Oliphant and Halie Thopson were the offensive leaders in the game. Potter went 1-1 at the plate, added her second solo homerun of the day and was avoided the rest of the game with two walks to her credit. Oliphant went 1-3 from the batter's box with an RBI double. Thompson also hit 1-3 and scored a run.
Despite the losses on Sunday, the Cowgirls managed to grab one win in their first four-game road series in the RMAC this season. During the weekend, both
Lynette Directo and
Brittany Potter hit the ball well. Potter continues to add to her homerun total this season and Directo now leads the Cowgirls in hits with 29. Although it's still early, the Cowgirls are still in the hunt this season sitting in sixth place in the RMAC.
The NMHU Cowgirls will continue conference action again, on Wednesday 3/14, as they travel to Silver City, N.M. to play a double header against the Mustangs of Western New Mexico University. The Cowgirls won both games of the double header the teams recently played in Las Vegas, N.M. The Mustangs are currently in eighth place in the RMAC with a 6-8 conference record and 11-16 in overall play. The first game of Wednesday's double header is scheduled for a 12 pm start time, with game two to follow shortly after the completion of game one. If you can't make it Silver City to watch the Cowgirls in action, you can check NMHU Athletics' webpage
HERE for information on Live Stats..
Click
HERE For Complete Game One Stats
Click
HERE For Complete Game Two Stats
GO COWGIRLS!!!
