PORTALES, N.M. – The Cowgirls held late leads in both games, but the Zias rallied in their final at-bats as New Mexico Highlands (1-6) lost the first game 9-8 in nine innings and 5-4 in the second game against Eastern New Mexico (8-3) Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 18).
In game two with the Cowgirls up 2-1 heading to the fifth, Highlands strung together hits to score a pair but could not put the home team away. With one out in the top of the fifth with a runner on first, senior
Jessica Brink and sophomore
Katelyn Bates singled to plate a run. Junior
Ashton Borunda followed with an RBI double, but a line out and a ground out ended the threat. However, Eastern New Mexico answered with two runs to bring the Cowgirls lead back to one.
In the bottom of the sixth for the Zias, Morgan Green doubled and advanced to third on a single up the middle by Savannah Chavez. A sacrifice bunt scored a run, but a foul out put two down. Audrey Valesquez then singled through the left side and scored the winning run. The Cowgirls went in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Brink went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored to lead the Cowgirls. Junior
Ka'uilani Kamai also had two hits and a run scored. Freshman
Michelle Brincefield took the loss in the circle, allowing 14 hits and five runs in six innings of work to fall to 1-1.
Valesquez went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Vanessa Ramirez improved to 1-0, allowing no earned runs in the final 2.2 innings with just one walk and a hit by pitch.
Going to the ninth tied at six, the Cowgirls had a runner at third with two outs. Brink blasted a two-run home run to left field to put Highlands up 8-6 heading to the bottom of the ninth. The international tie-breaking rule (place a runner at second to begin the inning) and a single and error put the tying runs in scoring position for the Zias. A dropped foul ball loaded the bases with no outs, and Eastern New Mexico took the 9-8 win with a pair of singles to plate three.
Freshman
Destiny Navarro added a two-run blast in the first for the Cowgirls as she finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Brink took the loss in the circle and falls to 0-3 on the season.
Aurelia Sandoval went 2-for-4 for the Ziaswith a pair of runs and RBIs. Aja Secheslingloff improved to 6-1, pitching the final five innings in relief and gave up five hits and five runs (three earned).
The Cowgirls return to action Friday for a triple header at Regis. Stay logged in to New Mexico Highlands for updated times.
