Cowgirls split with Black Hills State on Monday afternoon

Castle Rock, CO --- The New Mexico Highlands Softball team split with Black Hills State on Monday after scoring 2 runs in the top of the 6^th inning to finish the first weekend of conference play 2-2.
 
The Cowgirls again found themselves ahead in game 1 of a double header as Paige Varni would score Samantha Gamboa in the second inning and Brooklynn DeLozier scored off a fielder's choice at second base late in the third inning.
 
The Yellow Jackets would tie the game in the bottom half of the third inning before taking a one-run lead in the bottom of the fourth with a double to left center.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, the Cowgirls would retake the lead from the Yellow Jackets and take a 4-3 lead however, BHSU would take advantage of some fielding errors by the Cowgirls and score three runs to go on and win the game 6-4.
 
The Cowgirls would finish the game with 7 hits and 2 errors while Nathalie Blattmann (0-2) would pitch a complete game in the circle.
 
"I thought Nat was much better today than yesterday despite giving up the same amount of runs" Head Coach Kevin Jannusch stated on his pitcher's performance. "She had better command at the plate and was more efficient".
 
In game 2, Black Hills State jumped out to an early 2 run lead after the first inning before Camrynn Ziegler hit her first homerun of the season to tie the game at 2 with two outs in the second inning.
 
Paige Varni would step in for the Cowgirls in the 3^rd inning and single to left center to score Samantha Gamboa from third base to give the Cowgirls their first lead of the game. A deep sacrifice fly from Tamia Yellowman would score Savannah Pineda Chavez to give the Cowgirl a 4-2 advantage.
 
The Yellow Jackets would quickly regain the lead with a three-run homerun to take a 5-4 lead after three innings of play as Crystal Amaral of BHSU would homer in the 5^th to give the Yellow Jackets a 6-4 lead.
 
Carlee Gonzalez showed poise at the plate by knocking a shot over the center field fence to bring the Cowgirls within 1 run. Megan Gutierrez would get things started for the Cowgirls in the 6^th inning with a single up the middle and Taylor fish would step in to single and move Gutierrez to third. Pineda Chavez would give the Cowgirls a lead with a single through the right side to score Gutierrez and Pineda Chavez.
 
"What a big two out hit Savannah had for us" Jannusch stated. "She's had a good pre-season and is crafty at the plate. It's been our freshman poise at the plate for us. Paige today and Sav today".
 
The Yellow Jackets would load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 6^th to scare the Cowgirls but shortstop Tamia Yellowman would retire the side with a routine ground ball hit her way.
 
"I am happy with our effort for the series" stated Jannusch. "Of course we'd like to win every game, but we cut down on mistakes on day two and hit better against their best pitcher. We know what to go home and work on to prepare or the great teams in the RMAC".
 
The Cowgirls would finish the game with 13 hits while Paige Varni would record her second win of the season while adding two strikeouts to her resume. Ziegler, Gutierrez, Fish, Gamboa, Chavez, and Varni would each record 2 hits apiece.  
 
"Paige was also more in control" Jannusch added. "We need to clean a couple things up on defense to help our pitchers more. Paige showed lots of guts going out after we took a late lead and held them in the sixth and seventh."
 
The Cowgirls will be back in action next weekend as they will host Regis University on Saturday at 12 pm and Sunday at 11 am at the HU Softball Complex. Spectators will not be allowed in the games, however, the games will be streamed and live stats will be available at nmhuathletics.com.