Cowgirls score 5 runs in bottom of sixth inning to split with UCCS

Las Vegas, NM --- The New Mexico Highlands softball team scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the night cap of a double-header 6-3 and end the day with a split with UCCS.
 
Errors haunted the Cowgirls as the Mountain Lions jumped out to an early 4-0 lead through two and a half innings off play in game one.
 
Camrynn Ziegler (Jr; El Paso, TX) got on with a two out single to center field in bottom half of the third before Brooklynn DeLozier (Sr; Longmont, CO) blasted her third homerun of the season to right-center to cut the UCCS lead to 4-2.
 
The Mountain Lions started the top of the fourth inning with a wild play that resulted in an in the park homerun for UCCS Brianna Santos. Santos hit a ground ball to Megan Gutierrez (Fr; Whitier, CA), however, reached on a throw that went over Taylor Fish's (Fr; Wildomar, CA) head at first base. Santos took second and attempted to take third as Tamia Yellowman misread the throw from Fish and resulted in another error on the play and Santos to run home.
 
The nightmare wasn't over for the Cowgirls as another throwing error from freshman Samantha Gamboa (Albuquerque, NM) in right field gave UCCS DP Meghan Waidler three bags and an eventual sacrifice fly capped off a two-run inning for the Mountain Lions.
 
Both teams would be held scoreless for the remainder off the game as UCCS took game one 6-2.
 
Ziegler, DeLozier, Gamboa, and Brooke De La Garza (Fr; Silver City, NM) eachregistered a hit for the Cowgirls as DeLozier registered both RBI.
 
Cassidy Munoz (Fr; Lancaster, CA) earned her first start of her college career after pitching two innings and giving up four runs off four hits and a strike out. Savannah Pineda-Chavez (Fr; Montebello, CA) stepped in to relieve Munoz in the third inning, giving up two runs off five hits and also registered a strikeout.
 
The Cowgirls then started game two with another error, this time from Ziegler in center field that gave UCCS a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
 
Ziegler, however, made up for her error with a single through the left side before DeLozier moved her to second base with a slow hit back to the pitcher. Ziegler then stole third and scored on a wild pitch from UCCS pitcher Cami Duffey to cut the lead to 2-1 after one.
 
A triple from UCCS Santos and a sacrifice fly from Sawyer Brewester gave the Mountain Lions a comfortable 3-1 lead as UCCS then held the Cowgirls scoreless for the next three innings.
 
Shortstop Tamia Yellowman (Fr; Phoenix, AZ) started the bottom of the sixth inning with a lead-off single up the middle and was followed by two grounders from Ziegler and DeLozier to give the Cowgirls two quick outs.
 
With DeLozier on first base, Gutierrez was hit by a pitch before Carlee Gonzalez (Fr; Rocklin, CA) blasted a double to left field to score DeLozier and cut the UCCS lead to 3-2. Fish then used a fielding error by UCCS third baseman Brewster to score Gutierrez from third and tie the game before Gamboa stepped in to knock a slow hit ball to the shortstop and beat the throw at first base. Gamboa scored Gonzalez on the play which gave the Cowgirls a 4-3 lead.
 
Another Cowgirl hit, this time from De La Garza scored Gamboa and Nathalie Blattmann (So; Abbotsville, Canada), who pinch ran for Fish earlier in the inning, to give the Cowgirls and eventual 6-3 win over the Mountain Lions.
 
"Having the big inning was just what we needed" stated NMHU head coach Kevin Jannusch. "Samantha and Brooke have been having great at-bats for us. Sam hustled her way to her infield hit then Brookes smash put the nail in the coffin."
 
Blattmann (W, 4-14) pitched a complete game for the Cowgirls after giving up three runs (two earned) off five hits and striking out seven Mountain Lions.
 
"Nathalie was exceptional" Jannusch later commented. "She also has been trending up. She shut them down after the third inning and it was nice to see our offense back her with a huge rally. She has taken some tough losses this year. We're glad this one bounced her way."
 
The Cowgirls and the Mountain Lions will finish the four-game series with a double-header beginning at 11 AM tomorrow morning.
 
Tomorrow is also the final home series of the 2021 season as the Cowgirls will recognize both Brooklynn DeLozier and Raelyn Sanchez for their time here at NMHU.
 
GO COWGIRLS!!