LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Cowgirls just need to win one game tomorrow against the Orediggers to make the 2015 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament thanks to a 6-2 win in game one and an 8-6 come-from-behind win in game two as New Mexico Highlands (21-25, 15-18 RMAC) swept Colorado School of Mines (10-38, 8-26 RMAC) Saturday afternoon (April 25).
Senior
Jessica Brink had a complete-game win in game one and allowed no runs in relief in game two to improve her record to 13-10 for the year – including a win in each of her last four appearances. In 10 innings on the day, she allowed 10 hits and two runs (one earned) with nine strikeouts.
The Cowgirls used a three-run first in both games to get off to a fast start. In game one, senior
Jacquelyn Wood reached on a throwing error and advanced to third on the mistake. Freshman
Destiny Navarro doubled to drive in Wood. Junior
Ashton Borunda singled to second to put runners on the corners. Brink and junior
Jacquelyn Solis walked to drive in a second run before redshirt freshman
Gabby Hansell singled in the third run.
After a run in the third, the Cowgirls opened up a 6-0 lead after the fourth. With one out, Borunda singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single up the middle put runners on the corners before Hansell's infield hit put the Cowgirls up 5-0. After two walks loaded the bases, sophomore
Katelyn Bates singled in the sixth run of the game.
Borunda was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Hansell was 2-for-4 with two RBI's.
Colorado School of Mines scored an unearned run in the sixth and a single tally in the seventh for its lone runs. Paige Noehring went 3-for-4 with an RBI from the plate for the Orediggers while Hallie Smith took the loss to fall to 8-19, allowing 10 hits and six runs (five earned) in four innings of work.
The Cowgirls scored three runs in the first to take a 3-1 lead, but the Orediggers scored five unanswered to take a 6-3 heading to the bottom of the fourth. Over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, Highlands battled back for the 8-6 win. Hansell homered to left field in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth, the Cowgirls benefitted from a key error, an illegal pitch and a passed ball. Solis and Navarro led off the inning with singles. An illegal pitch moved both runners into scoring position and an error allowed Solis to score. Junior
Ka'iulani Kamai singled in a run to tie the game. Brink grounded into an RBI, fielder's choice to put the Cowgirls up 7-6 after five innings.
In the sixth, Wood singled to second base and scored on Solis' double.
Wood, Solis and Navarro all went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Solis had a pair of RBI's and Navarro added one. Brink threw three scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit.
Tied at three after three innings, Colorado School of Mines tallied three runs in the top of the fourth. Pua Fujinaga walked, was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on a single by Elise Dugwyler. A stolen base put both runners in scoring position before a passed ball scored Fujinaga. Dana Gallegos singled, stole second and Sonoma Toot plated a pair on a single to put the Orediggers up 6-3.
Paige Noehring and Gallegos both went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Noehring added two RBI's. Angela Eickelman fell to 0-5 on the year, allowing an unearned run on one hit and one illegal pitch, not getting anyone out in relief.
With a win tomorrow or a Fort Lewis loss, the Cowgirls will make the RMAC Tournament for the first time since 2005. Game one of the doubleheader begins at 10 a.m. with senior day shortly before the first pitch of game one.
