Spearfish, South Dakota - The New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls split a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference softball doubleheader with Black Hills State on Monday at Yellow Jacket Field. The Yellow Jackets took the opener 2-1 before the Cowgirls responded with an 11-6 win in game two.
Monday's first game began approximately 45 minutes later than scheduled due to cold weather conditions in the Spearfish area.
Game 1: Black Hills State 2, New Mexico Highlands 1
Black Hills State scored twice in the first inning and held off New Mexico Highlands the rest of the way to take the opening game of the doubleheader.
The Cowgirls struck first in the top of the first inning when
Hallie Watkins doubled down the left field line to drive in
Andrea DeLaTrinidad for a 1-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning scoring with back-to-back doubles to Black Hills State a 2-1 advantage.
That proved to be the only scoring of the game as both pitching staffs settled in.
Jazmyn Griego started in the circle for the Cowgirls and allowed two runs on four hits over 2.2 innings.
Liliana Vigil German was strong in relief, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out five.
Watkins recorded the Cowgirls' only extra-base hit and drove in the lone run. DeLaTrinidad scored the run and stole a base, while
Lily Booth added a single as Highlands finished with three hits.
Game 2: New Mexico Highlands 11, Black Hills State 6
The Cowgirls bounced back in game two with a big offensive performance, collecting 13 hits in the win.
New Mexico Highlands jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning.
Jazmyn Griego delivered an RBI single and
Cheyenne Ben added a run-scoring fielder's choice to give the Cowgirls a 2-0 advantage.
New Mexico Highlands extended the lead in the second inning.
Hallie Watkins drove in a run with a single and later scored on a
Jazmyn Griego RBI double to make it 5-1.
Black Hills State answered with four runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 5-5.
The Cowgirls regained the lead in the fourth when Griego singled up the middle to score
Olivia Boswell. New Mexico Highlands continued to add insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull away.
Griego had a huge day at the plate, going a perfect 5-for-5 with five RBI and two doubles. Watkins also had a strong performance, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs scored and a double.
Boswell scored four runs and collected two hits, while DeLaTrinidad added two hits and three runs scored.
Liliana Vigil German started in the circle for New Mexico Highlands before
Jolissa Valdez came on in relief to earn the win. Valdez pitched four innings, allowing one run on three hits.
With the split, the Cowgirls moved to 7-17 overall and 5-7 in RMAC play.
New Mexico Highlands returns home for a weekend series with Colorado Mesa scheduled to get underway Saturday at 12:00 pm.
