LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands softball team (22-26, 16-19 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) – picked 11th in the preseason – won 15-of-24 of its final conference games to make the RMAC Tournament for the first time in a decade. The Cowgirls won game one 5-3 against Colorado School of Mines (11-38, 9-26 RMAC) to clinch their spot before a 12-6 loss in game two Sunday (April 26).
Down 3-0 in the fourth, the Cowgirls scored all the runs they needed in game one. Highlands loaded the bases with no outs, but the Orediggers were able to retire a pair of Cowgirls. But, Hallie Smith allowed a wild pitch as the Cowgirls got on the scoreboard. Senior
Jacquelyn Wood than walked to reload the bases before junior
Jacquelyn Solis tripled to quickly put Highlands up 4-3. Freshman
Destiny Navarro then singled in the final run.
The Orediggers put baserunners on in every inning, but senior
Jessica Brink (14-10) retired the side to improve to 3-0 in the circle for the weekend. Brink allowed three runs (one earned) and gave up six hits in the game.
Colorado School of Mines took advantage of errors and lucky bounces to go up 3-0 after two innings. Paige Noehring led off the game with a single off of Brink's foot, stole second and scored on Rebecca Fallon's double. In the second, Pua Fujinaga singled and advanced to second on an error. J Vasquez then hit an infield single and stole second. An error on a groundball to first scored a pair of runs in the inning.
Hallie Smith fell to 8-20 for the year, allowing eight hits and five unearned runs.
In game two, the Orediggers exploded for 11 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to blow open a 1-1 game. The Cowgirls were down 5-1 in the fifth before scoring a trio of runs. Junior
Marissa Valencia led off the inning with a single and senior
Marlinda Pecos walked. Solis than doubled to score a run and move Pecos into scoring position. Navarro added a two-RBI single to bring the Cowgirls within 5-4.
The Orediggers added seven runs in the stop of the sixth. Redshirt freshman
Gabby Hansell added a solo home run in the bottom of the inning before Navarro added a blast in the seventh.
Wood took the loss in game two, allowing 12 runs (eight earned) and 12 hits with a strikeout in seven innings.
The Orediggers led 5-4 in the sixth before scoring seven runs to put the game away. With a runner at third and one out, Dana Gallegos grounded out to drive in the sixth run. After a hit by pitch and a walk, Cassie Ford doubled to clear the bases. Pua Fujinaga then followed with a double to score Ford. Jackie Vasquez then singled to put runners on the corner before Elise Dugwyler singled and advanced to third on an error that scored Vasquez and Fujinaga. A passed ball scored the final run of the inning.
The Cowgirls return to action Thursday in the RMAC Tournament first round. Time and opponent are to be announced.
