SILVER CITY, N.M. - The Cowgirls hit four home runs on the day for the 5-2 win in game one, but the Mustangs rallied in game two as New Mexico Highlands (17-25, 11-18 Rocky Mountain Conference) fell in game two to Western New Mexico (20-25, 17-17 RMAC) 9-5 Saturday (April 18).
In game one, Western New Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the second when Stephanie Higgins hit a solo home run, but junior
Ka'iulani Kamai tied it up with a solo home run in the third. Senior
Jessica Brink helped herself in the circle with a two-run home run in the fourth and junior Marissa Velencia added a solo home run in the fifth.
Junior
Jacquelyn Solis added an RBI single in the sixth before Western New Mexico added a single tally in the bottom of the seventh for the final 5-2 score.
Brink improved to 10-10 in the circle, allowing eight hits and two runs (one earned) and eight hits for the complete-game win. Mikayla Austin fell to 10-12 for the Mustangs, allowing four hits and four runs in four innings of work.
It was Western New Mexico's turn to rally in game two. The Cowgirls took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when with two outs, redshirt freshman
Gabby Hansell singled and scored on freshman
Destiny Navarro's double. Brink then singled in Hansell to open up the 2-0 lead.
Down, 6-2, sophomore
Katelyn Bates added an RBI single in the sixth. However, the Mustangs answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, thanks in part to MaryJo Granger's two RBI single. Navarro added a solo home run in the top of the seventh.
Senior Jacki Wood had four hits in as many at-bats with a runs scored and an RBI. Navarro was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Freshman
Michelle Brincefield fell to 5-8 in the circle, allowing 13 hits and nine runs (six earned) in six innings of work.
After an unearned run in the third, Western New Mexico took the lead for good with a pair in the fourth. Samantha Munoz singled and scored on Granger's double. Granger finished the game 3-for-4 with five RBI's and a run scored. A Krystal Castillo single put the Mustangs up 3-2.
Western New Mexico blew the game open with three in the fifth. Granger added a two-RBI, bases loaded single and Castillo added an RBI single in the frame.
Granger, who had quite the day from the plate, improved to 6-9 in the circle, allowing 11 hits and five runs (four earned) in six innings of work.
The Cowgirls return to action Sunday (April 19) at 11 a.m. with a doubleheader against the Mustangs.
