LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands softball team nearly snagged the series finale against Chadron State, but came up just short and lost game two Saturday 5-4 after dropping the first game of the doubleheader to the Eagles 12-1 at Cowgirl Field.
In the second game, the Cowgirls (6-17 overall, 5-12 RMAC) fell behind 3-0 after a three-run second by the Eagles (10-23, 7-16) that was opened by a solo homer from Kayla Michel.
NMHU cut the lead to one in the bottom of the inning as after a
Brooklynn DeLozier double,
Ashley Forshee blasted a two-run homer deep over the wall in right-center field to make it 3-2.
Each team scored a run in the third inning (NMHU's coming on an RBI groundout by
Nicole Correia to score
Desiree Madrid who led off the inning with a double) before CSC added another in the fourth on a solo home run.
The Cowgirls cut the Eagles' lead back to one at 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth as DeLozier hit a one-out solo home run to left center. NMHU later in the inning got two runners on with two outs when
Camrynn Ziegler ripped a single to right before the Eagles threw out a Cowgirl trying to score to keep the game at 5-4.
NMHU wouldn't threaten in the seventh as the Cowgirls lost their fourth game in a row.
DeLozier went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and two runs while Forshee was also for 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
Desiree Bogarin got the loss, going all seven innings and giving up five runs on nine hits with a strikeout and three walks.
In the first game, CSC scored in five of the six innings and run-ruled the Cowgirls 12-1. NMHU finished with four hits with the lone run coming on a DeLozier solo home run in the third inning.
Belinda Gonzalez got the loss, going six innings and giving up 12 runs (10 earned) on 14 hits with two strikeouts and two runs.
The Cowgirls return to action Saturday as they open a four-game series against Fort Lewis at home with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
