DURANGO, CO - The Fort Lewis College Skyhawks and Western New Mexico Mustangs split their Saturday softball series at a blustery Aspen Field in Durango, CO, on April 13. The Mustangs (15-24, 12-16 RMAC) and Skyhawks (12-19, 10-16 RMAC) are ranked eighth and ninth, respectively, in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings, making these games very important in the push toward the postseason.
Western New Mexico took the first game 7-4 thanks to a fourth inning that saw them drive in four runs to break a 1-1 tie. Two more runs in the sixth were enough to hold off a late rally by the Skyhawks. WNM had thirteen hits to the FLC's eight.
Alicia Enriquez led the Mustangs, going 3-4 with one run and three RBIs. Domi Shone (7-12) got the win with six innings pitched, five hits, and three strikeouts.
For the Skyhawks,
Kaylynn Harmon went 2-3 with an RBI and
Hayley Bolyard was 1-3 with a run and an RBI. Pitcher
Kassie Haubert (4-10) took the loss with a complete game pitched, thirteen hits, and five strikeouts.
Although the late rally was not enough to get the win in the first game, the momentum continued into the second game for the Skyhawks. Powered by homeruns off the bats of
Chelsea Rodriguez and
Myndee Thompson, FLC took the second game 5-2.
The Skyhawks took the lead on a two-run homer by Rodriguez in the third inning and never trailed after that. Thompson's solo shot, part of her 3-3 day, along with two more runs in the sixth inning sealed the deal.
Alicia Enriquez was again strong for the Mustangs, going 2-4 in the second game. BreAnna Eaker (7-9) took the loss, pitching three innings and allowing three runs off six hits.
Victoria Johnson (6-5) earned the win for the Skyhawks, nearly pitching a complete game and allowing eight hits. Closer
Katie Watkins (3) needed only one pitch, a line drive that she caught, to get the final out and the save.
Fort Lewis College and Western New Mexico meet again in Durango on Sunday, April 14 for another doubleheader.
