LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands softball team (11-31, 7-22 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) plays its final home game and its second-to-last series of the season when it hosts Land of Enchantment-rival Western New Mexico (12-33, 10-22) Friday and Saturday (April 18-19) at the NMHU Softball Fields in Las Vegas, N.M.
Live stats for the entire weekend will be available by clicking
here.
Friday, Softball is Saving Second Base On Friday, the softball team will play in its annual pink game. The baseball team will also team up with the Cowgirls. Fans attending either softball or baseball are encouraged to give a donation, which will be given in the fight to eradicate cancer, for admission into the games.
There is also "Save Second Base" T-Shirts available in the softball offices, room 232 at the Wilson Complex. There are a multitude of sizes but are on a first come, first serve basis.
During both baseball and softball on Friday, cancer facts will be read between innings.
Celebrating the Seniors On Saturday, the New Mexico Highlands will celebrate two seniors in
Theresa Duncklee and
Dominique Padilla. "I and the rest of the New Mexico Highlands softball coaching staff would like to thank Theresa and Dominique for all of their hard work and dedication to the program," head coach
Karin Gadberry said. "We wish them the best for the rest of the season and after their Cowgirls' athletic career.
Both players joined the New Mexico Highlands softball team as juniors in 2013. Coming into the weekend, Padilla has appeared in 85 games for the Cowgirls, making 79 starts. She is a career .295 hitter with 64 hits in 217 at-bats. She also has 13 doubles and four home runs. Last season against Metro State on April 20, Padilla hit a three-run home run to turn an 8-6 deficit into an eventual 9-8 win.
She also appeared as a pitcher in one game last year.
Duncklee, a 2014 RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll honoree with a 3.59 GPA in human performance and sport, has played in 14 games with one start. Just used as a pitcher last season, Duncklee is 2-for-8 with an RBI this season. Her run batted in came with two outs against Regis in the second game of a double header on March 1, 2014.
Thank you to the two seniors for all of their time with New Mexico Highlands softball!
Scouting Western New Mexico (Courtesy of WNMUMustangs.com). The Mustangs will look to snap a four-game slide after Colorado Mesa swept all four in Grand Junction last weekend. Seven Lady Mustangs in the regular lineup are batting over .300. Mariah McDonald (Silver leads the way with a .353 average, eight doubles, two triples and also has six home runs and 29 RBI's. Ricki Gentry is hitting .346 with two home runs, eight doubles and 27 RBI's. Kale Gahn is right behind with a .344 average, seven home runs, eight doubles and 32 RBI's. Mary Othon posts a .336 average, while slugging seven home runs as well to tie Gahn for the team lead, 11 doubles and 25 RBI's. Junior Stephanie Higgins is at .329 with a team-high 13 doubles, a home run, 17 RBI's and is tied with McDonald for the team-high in triples with two. Krystal Castillo rounds out the group over .300 with a .307 average, along with seven RBI's. Lacy Granger has a .304 average off the bench and eight RBI's.
In the circle, Domi Shone has seen action in 157.1 innings, 31 total appearances, 23 games started, 14 complete games and has nine wins with a 5.47 ERA. Amber Taynton is next in innings tossed with 93 in 24 appearances, 19 games started, nine complete games and has tallied three wins and a 6.77 ERA. Chyler Imai has pitched 19 innings and Breanna Aker has 13 innings.
Next Up The Cowgirls will conclude the 2014 season next weekend (April 26-27) when they travel to Golden, Colo., to take on Colorado Mines.
