Cowgirls get walk-off win to split two with CSU-Pueblo

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands softball team was on the brink of being swept at home by CSU-Pueblo as the Cowgirls trailed 4-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh of game two Sunday.
 
But the Cowgirls used four consecutive hits – capped by a game-winning, two-run double by Desiree Madrid – to beat the ThunderWolves 5-4 and split the doubleheader at Cowgirl Field.
 
NMHU (5-12 overall, 5-8 RMAC) got the rally going with a one-out walk to Haley Rodriguez followed by a bunt single from Camrynn Ziegler and a single to left by Victoria Mata to load the bases. Madrid then on a 0-1 count ripped a double to the gap in left center to score Rodriguez and Ziegler to give the Cowgirls a 5-4 victory over CSU-Pueblo (4-14, 3-11).
 
Leah Osborn paced the Cowgirls at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Mata was also 2-for-3 with two runs and a double.
 
Belinda Gonzalez got the win for NMHU, going the distance and giving up four runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
 
In the first game, the Cowgirls scored a pair of runs in the first inning on an Olivia Muniz RBI groundout and an Ashley Forshee RBI single. But CSU-Pueblo went on to score three in the third, five in the fourth and four in the fifth to run-rule NMHU 12-3.
 
Mata went 2-fo4-3 with a run and a double for the Cowgirls while Forshee went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Isabella Scarale got the loss, going five innings and giving up 12 runs (nine earned) on 15 hits with no strikeouts and one walk.
 
The Cowgirls return to action 11 a.m. Monday as they play a non-conference doubleheader against Texas A&M-Commerce.