LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Freshman
Michelle Brincefield picked up the win in her first collegiate start while junior
Ka'uuilani Kamai blasted a pair of home runs as New Mexico Highlands (1-1) lost a tough game to Central Washington (1-0) 9-5 before picking up a 16-3 win against UT-Permian Basin (1-4) in the nightcap.
Brincefield only allowed a pair of walks in the first two innings as the Falcons and Cowgirls were scoreless after two. However, Highlands scored six runs in the top of the third to take control of the game. Junior
Marissa Valencia led off the inning with a double before Kamai knocked a two-run home run. With two outs and two on, junior
Dekota Monarrez smacked an RBI double and sophomore
Katelyn Bates followed with a three run home run to left center.
After the Falcons got a run back in the bottom of the third, the Cowgirls exploded for six more runs in the fourth. Junior
Jacquelyn Solis and Bates added a pair of two RBI hits while a Falcon error led to two more runs to cross the plate.
Brincefield got the win, surrendering four hits and three runs while striking out five for the win. Solis led the Cowgirls with two hits and three runs scored and two RBIs while Bates went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and five RBIs.
JJ Con Oesen led UT-Permian Basin with a two-run blast in the bottom of the fifth. Holly Herrington took the loss and falls to 0-3 on the year.
In game one against Central Washington, the Cowgirls wasted no time in taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Senior
Jacki Wood led off the game with a single and scored on a two-run blast by Kamai in her first collegiate at-bat. However, the Wildcats answered right back after loading the bases in the bottom of the first before Austin Wilkerson hit a grand slam off of senior
Jessica Brink. Central Washington led 5-2 after one and built a 7-2 advantage.
The Cowgirls cut it to 7-5 but could climb no closer in a 9-5 loss. Wood, Bates and freshman
Destiny Navarro had a pair of hits while Brink fell to 0-1 in the circle.
Wilkerson went 2-for-3 with five RBIs and a run scored. Kiana Wood picked up the win for Central Washington in relief.
The Cowgirls return to action against Notre Dame de Namur at 5:30 before taking on CSU-Dominguez Hills at 8:30 p.m.
