It was a great day for the Western New Mexico University softball team as they got strong pitching from redshirt junior Domi Shone and freshman Tiana Salazar, along with clutch hits to take both games Friday. WNMU won the first game of the day 4-1 over No. 20 Augustana and then came away with the 3-1 win over No. 25 CSU-Monterey Bay later in the day.
WNMU opened the day against No. 20 Augustana (S.D.) and behind the strong pitching by Shone and clutch home run by senior Thailyza Ramirez, the Lady Mustangs came away with the 4-1 victory.
Shone picked up her first win (1-2) of the season going all seven innings and allowing just six hits and the one earned run. Ramirez powered the offense with a big three-run homer in the third inning to provide the difference in the game.
With the game still scoreless into the third inning, Ramirez delivered the big hit. With two outs to start the inning, freshman Ariana Maldonado got things going with a single to right. Sophomore Mariangela Garcia worked a full-count walk to set the table for Ramirez. On a 1-0 pitch, she drilled it to left-center for a three-run home run and a 3-0 lead.
The Vikings received a solo home run by Shannon Peterson in the fourth to leave WNMU in front, 3-1.
The Lady Mustangs added an extra run in the fifth, again scoring with two outs. Garcia opened the frame with a triple down the right field line. Two outs followed before junior Lacy Granger singled up the middle to bring home Garcia for the 4-1 lead.
Things would get real interesting in the seventh. Still behind 4-1, Augustana began to rally. With one out, the Vikings strung together three straight singles to load the bases. Shone refocused and locked it down for WNMU getting a fielder’s choice groundout and another groundout to end the threat and give the Lady Mustangs the 4-1 victory.
Seven Lady Mustangs provided the seven hits for WNMU, with Garcia scoring two runs and Ramirez with the three RBI.
Augustana had six hits with Peterson posting two hits and the only RBI. Carley Pickett tossed all seven innings in the circle allowing the four earned runs.
Salazar then took the spotlight in the nightcap shutting down the No. 25 Otters allowing just one run on three hits in going all seven innings. She posted eight strikeouts in getting her second (2-0) win of the season.
In a pitchers’ duel throughout, CSU-Monterey Bay was able to break through first with a run in the second. The teams then struggled to get many hits the next several innings when the Lady Mustangs came alive in the sixth.
Senior Alicia Enriquez opened the frame reaching on an error, as prior to the inning she had the only hit for WNMU. Senior Krystal Castillo advanced her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Junior Linzy Granger then delivered a big single on a 0-2 pitch to left field that brought Enriquez around after an error by the left fielder. Maldonado worked a nine-pitch walk to put runners at first and second with still one out. Garcia followed with a single to right that brought Linzy Granger in and another error, this time by the right fielder moved the runners up to second and third. Ramirez closed the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly to right leaving WNMU ahead 3-1 after cashing in on three errors.
Salazar wasn’t to be denied in the seventh, as she worked a 1-2-3 inning getting a pair of strikeouts, before a groundout back to her to end the game.
Each team had just three hits, with Linzy Granger, Garcia and Enriquez posting the hits. Ramirez had the only RBI.
Bianca Noriega collected two hits to lead the Otters. Lindsey Clarkson went all six innings in the circle, allowing no earned runs and had eight strikeouts.
WNMU will continue the Desert Stinger on Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m. against Northwest Nazarene. They will finish the day against Azusa Pacific at 4:30 p.m. Live stats will once again be available.