The NMHU Softball team split their non-conference double header against their in-state rivals the Zias of Eastern New Mexico University, on Wednesday, 3/28, at Brandt Field. The Zias won the first game in extra innings by the final score of 6-4. The Cowgirls rallied back in game two after being down 6-1 to score six runs in the sixth inning to take the 7-6 victory. With the split against the Zias, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Shellie Broyles, improve to a 17-19 overall record and remain at 11-13 in the RMAC.
In game one the Zias jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when first baseman Katie Ramsay hit a solo homerun over the left-field wall. Neither team could produce any offense for the next four innings and the Zias' Amy Smith was working a no hitter through five innings. Finally the Cowgirls got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Erica Wieck scored from third base on an RBI single up the middle by
Brittany Potter. Then a couple of batters later
Krista Mattice crossed home plate when
Lynette Directo hit an RBI single through the left side. After the six innings of play the Cowgirls were in the lead 2-1.
ENMU answered back in the top of the seventh inning with two runs of their own. They picked up two runs on two hits and managed to regain the lead 3-2. With the game on the line the Cowgirls were determined to keep the game alive in the bottom of the seventh inning. With
Devon Paiz on third base and
Halie Thompson on second base as a pinch runner,
Brittany Potter hit an RBI single to left field. Paiz scored easily from third and Thompson made a try for home as the go-ahead run, but a great throw from the Zias' left fielder to the plate got Thompson and ended the inning. After seven innings of play the game was all tied up 3-3 and headed for extra innings.
The Zias' offense came alive in the top of the eighth inning and scored three runs on three hits to take the 6-3 lead. The Cowgirls came up to bat and started things off great with a double to left-center field by
Katie Kerr. The next two batters grounded out, but with two outs and a Kerr on third base
Shelby Watts ripped an RBI double to left field that allowed Kerr to score. The Zias managed to get the next batter to ground out and they sealed up the game one victory by the final score of 6-4.
Jessica Brink got the start in the pitcher's circle for the Cowgirls. She threw six innings and faced 27 batters in her no-decision appearance. Brink allowed three runs on nine hits, but only one run was earned. She struck out six batters and walked one.
Erica Wieck (4-11) came on to relieve Brink in the seventh inning and was credited with the loss for the Cowgirls. She threw two innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 13 batters. Wieck allowed three runs off three hits, struck out one batter and walked two.
The Cowgirls' offense struggled against the Zias' freshman starting pitcher Amy Smith. They combined for a .276 team batting average, with four runs from eight hits, and three doubles.
Brittany Potter,
Krista Mattice, and
Katie Kerr were the offensive leaders in game one for the Cowgirls. Potter finished 2-3 at the plate, drew one walk, and had two RBIs. Mattice was 1-2 from the batter's box, drew two walks and scored one run. Kerr was 1-3 at the plate with a run scored and a double.
In game two of Wednesday's double header neither team was able to score in the first inning. The Zias were the first to add runs to the scoreboard. In the top of the second inning they got three runs on four hits. The Cowgirls went scoreless again in the bottom of the second inning and the Zias would add more runs in the third inning. ENMU put up three more runs in the top of the third inning off of three hits to take the 6-0 lead.
Halie Thompson was brought on to catch in the fourth inning and made her mark in the bottom of the fourth. She came to the plate with two outs and hit a solo homerun to center field to get the Cowgirls on the scoreboard. Neither team scored in the fifth inning and after going scoreless in the top of the sixth inning the Zias still had a 6-1 lead.
The Cowgirls were down by five runs and mounted a dramatic rally in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Halie Thompson started the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed
Devon Paiz to score from third base.
Jenelle Klassen followed that up with an RBI double down the right-field line, scoring
Katie Kerr. A throwing error by the Zias' pitcher allowed
Lynette Directo to reach first base.
Shelby Watts scored from third and
Jenelle Klassen crossed home from second base on the play. The Cowgirls were down 6-5 with Directo on first base when
Tess Oliphant stepped up to the plate. With two outs, Oliphant hit a two-run homerun to left field that gave the Cowgirls the 7-6 lead. The Cowgirls put the Zias down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh inning to seal the come-from-behind victory 7-6.
Jenelle Klassen (9-3) was credited with the win in game two for the Cowgirls. She threw a complete seven innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 33 batters. Klassen allowed six runs on 10 hits, but only four of the runs were earned. She struck out four batters and walked two in the complete game victory.
The Cowgirls' offense got a late start in game two but they made up for it with their six runs in the sixth inning. They combined for a .346 team batting average, with seven runs off nine hits. They hit one double and two homeruns.
Devon Paiz,
Halie Thompson, and
Tess Oliphant were the offensive leader for the Cowgirls in game two. Paiz finished 2-3 at the plate with a run scored. Thompson was 1-1 from the batter's box and started the Cowgirls' scoring with her fourth inning solo homerun. Oliphant went 1-3 at the plate and propelled the Cowgirls to victory with her two-out two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Cowgirls will continue conference action again, on 3/31-4/1, as they host the Mountain Lions of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in a four game series, in Las Vegas, N.M. The Mountain Lions are currently in tenth place in the RMAC with a 9-13 conference record and 11-16 in overall play. Game one on Saturday, 3/31, will begin at 12 pm. Game one on Sunday, 4/1, is set for an 11 am start time. Game two of both double headers will begin shortly after the completion of game one. If you can't make it out to Brandt Field to watch the Cowgirls in action, you can watch the Live Stats
HERE.
Click
HERE For Complete Game One Stats
Click
HERE For Complete Game Two Stats
GO COWGIRLS!!!
