Cowgirls keep it close, but fall in walk-off fashion twice at Dixie State

ST. GEORGE, Utah --- The New Mexico Highlands softball team lost a pair of games in walk-off fashion to Dixie State, 4-3 and 4-1, Friday at Karl Brooks Field.
 
In the first game the Cowgirls (8-25 overall, 7-20 RMAC) led the 3-0 after one, but the Trailblazers (31-10, 25-9) scored single runs in the second, fifth, sixth and seventh innings to come away with the win. In the second game NMHU got a lead-off home run from Brooklynn DeLozier to take an early 1-0 lead, but an unearned run in the third inning and a walk-off, three-run homer in the seventh by DSU led to the Trailblazer victory.
 
In the first game the Cowgirls loaded the bases in the first inning thanks to a hit batter and a pair of walks before Olivia Muniz hit a two-run single to make it 2-0. Later in the inning Angelina Guthro hit an RBI single to make it 3-0 before DSU went to its bullpen.
 
NMHU managed just two hits after that as the Trailblazers slowly chipped away at Cowgirl starter Belinda Gonzalez – eventually winning the game in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI infield single.
 
Gonzalez picked up the loss, going 6.2 innings and giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits with a strikeout and two walks. Outside of the RBI hits by Muniz and Guthro, Cabrera added a double and DeLozier added a single.
 
The Cowgirls started the second game with a bang as DeLozier took a 2-2 pitch and drove it over the center field wall for a lead-off home run. But that turned into the only hit of the game for the Cowgirls.
 
Dixie State scored an unearned run in the third inning before hitting the walk-off homer in the seventh.
 
Brianna Velasquez picked up the tough loss for NMHU, going all six innings and giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and five walks.
 
NMHU and DSU wrap up the series with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday.