The NMHU Softball team split the first double header in their four-game series against the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College, on 4/14, at Brandt Field, in Las Vegas, N.M. The Cowgirls were victorious in game one by the final score of 6-2. In game two, the Skyhawks scored late in the game to get the 6-4 win. With the split against the Skyhawks, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Shellie Broyles, improve to a 15-19 record in the RMAC and 23-25 in overall play.
Game one was a pitcher's duel for the first three innings. Finally the Skyhawks opened up the scoring in the top of the fourth inning with two runs on two hits. The Cowgirls answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Roxanne Avalos hit a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed
Lynette Directo to score from third base. Then Brittney Potter scored when
Katie Kerr hit an RBI single to right field. The game was tied up at two apiece after four innings of play.
The Cowgirls took the 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. They scored two runs on one hit and thanks to a Skyhawks' error. Brittney Potter hit an RBI single to left field that scored
Devon Paiz from third base. Then
Shelby Watts reached first base on a fielder's choice, allowing
Lynette Directo to score from third base.
The Cowgirls' pitching and defense continued to hold the Skyhawks' offense at bay and the Cowgirls put up another two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Erica Wieck hit an RBI double to left center field, allowing pinch runner
Claire Hoy to score from first base. Then
Devon Paiz hit an RBI single to right-center field to score Wieck from second. The Cowgirls shut out the Skyhawks in the top of the seventh inning and went on to win game one, 6-2.
Jessica Brink (9-6) was credited with the win in game one for the Cowgirls. She threw a complete seven innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 31 batters. Brink allowed two runs on six hits, but none of the runs were earned. She struck out five batters and walked three.
The Cowgirls generated enough offense in game one to get the win. They combined for a .296 team batting average, with six runs on eight hits.
Brittany Potter,
Erica Wieck, and
Lynette Directo were the offensive leaders for the Cowgirls in game one. Potter was 2-3 at the plate, with an RBI and a run scored. Wieck finished the game 2-4 from the batter's box, with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Directo was 1-3 at the plate, drew a walk, and scored two runs.
Game two was close despite the Skyhawks outhitting the Cowgirls 15-4. Fort Lewis got on the scoreboard in the first inning, scoring a run from two hits. The Skyhawks added two more runs in the top of the second inning. The Cowgirls closed the lead in the bottom of the second inning with two runs on two hits and thanks to two Skyhawks' errors.
Roxanne Avalos was first to score on an errant throw. Then the Skyhawks' pitcher committed an error, allowing
Shelby Watts to cross home plate on the throw. After two innings of play the Skyhawks were in the lead 3-2.
The Cowgirls took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Alisha Perry hit an RBI single to left field that scored
Katie Kerr from third. Then
Erica Wieck hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed
Molly McDougall to cross home plate, giving the Cowgirls the 4-3 lead.
Fort Lewis tied the game up in the top of the fifth inning with a run off of two hits. The Skyhawks took the lead back in the top of the sixth inning. Their lead-off batter hit a single up the middle and then the next batter hit a two-run homerun over the left-field wall. The Cowgirls' bats went silent in the final two innings and the Skyhawks took the victory in game two, 6-4.
Jessica Brink got the start in the pitcher's circle for the Cowgirls in game two. She threw one and two-thirds innings and faced 11 batters. Brink allowed three runs on four hits, with only two of the runs being earned, and walking one batter.
Jenelle Klassen (8-4) relieved Brink in the second inning and was credited with the loss in game two for the Cowgirls. She threw three and two-thirds innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 22 batters. Klassen allowed three runs on eight hits, struck out five batters, and walked three.
Erica Wieck was brought on to relieve Klassen in the sixth inning. She threw one and two-thirds innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 10 batters. Wieck allowed no runs on three hits, struck out three, and walked two.
Despite scoring four runs in game two, the Cowgirls' offense struggled in the game and they were only able to get four hits. They combined for a .154 team batting average, but managed to draw six walks.
Katie Kerr and
Alisha Perry were the offensive leaders in game two for the Cowgirls in game two. Kerr was 2-3 at the plate and scored one run. Perry went 1-3 at the plate and had an RBI.
The Cowgirls will continue their four-game series against the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College, on 4/15, in their final home double header of the season. Sunday is Senior Day for the Cowgirls and they will be honoring senior
Alisha Perry at the break between games. Game one is set to begin at 11 am with game two to follow shortly after the completion of Senior Day festivities. Come on out to the field to catch the final home games of the 2012 season and help honor Cowgirls' senior
Alisha Perry for her contribution to Cowgirls Softball. 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!!!
