Cowgirls wrap up regular season with pod on road against CMU, CCU

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands softball team wraps up the regular season Friday and Saturday as they participate in a three-team pod against the top two teams in the conference in No. 12 Colorado Mesa and Colorado Christian at CCU's Lakewood Park in Lakewood, Colo.

The Cowgirls are coming off going 0-4 at Dixie State last weekend, falling twice in walk-off fashion. NMHU will look to get the bats rolling again after going 11-for-87 (.126 average) against the Trailblazers (NMHU is hitting .261 as a team this season).

The Cowgirls have four players hitting .333 or better in Brooklynn DeLozier (.339, 4 HR, 5 2B, 7 RBI, 18 runs, 4 SB), Breanna Cabrera (.339, 1 HR, 4 2B, 11 RBI, 9 runs), Leah Osborn (.337, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 22 R, 3 SB) and Camrynn Ziegler (.333, 4 2B, 10 runs, 7 SB).

In the circle, Belinda Gonzalez continues to lead the Cowgirls at 7-9 while owning a 5.83 ERA with 14 complete games and 54 strikeouts in 100.1 innings pitched this season (nearly 50 percent of the Cowgirls' innings).

Colorado Mesa leads the RMAC at 31-4 - 3.5 games ahead of Colorado Christian. The Mavs lead the RMAC in hitting (.362 average), runs scored (385), ERA (2.45) and fielding (.973). CMU is coming off of going 3-1 at home against UC Colorado Springs last week.

At the plate, AnnMarie Torres leads the Mavs with a .496 average with 13 home runs, 13 doubles and 60 RBI. Three players have a .400-plus average while Kaila Jacobi leads the team with 14 home runs. In the circle, all four pitchers that have thrown this season for CMU own a 3.04 or better ERA - led by Kimbri Herring (17-3, 2.23 ERA, 103 strikeouts in 122.1 innings). McKenzie Surface isn't far behind with a 17-1 mark, 2.36 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 83 innings.

CCU is coming off sweeping Black Hills State on the road, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 32-8 during the four-game set. The Cougars are second in the RMAC in hitting (.354) and runs scored (337), fourth in ERA  (3.09) and sixth in fielding (.955).

Stephanie Day leads the Cougars at the plate, hitting .427 with 10 homers, 14 doubles, 54 RBI and 42 runs. Charlotte Romero is hitting .412 with four homers, nine doubles and 33 RBI while Kendall Yasui is third on the team in hitting at .399 with five doubles, four triples, 20 RBI, 43 runs and 24 stolen bases. Hanna Farmer is also dangerous on the basepaths with a team-best 35 steals in 37 attempts. Kenzie Mattey leads the team in the circle with a 16-4 record and a 1.83 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 126.1 innings. Jennifer Romero is 13-5 with a 2.99 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 119.1 innings.