SILVER CITY, N.M. (GoThunderWolves.com – Mar. 8, 2014) – A 4-run Western New Mexico University fourth was too much for the Colorado State University-Pueblo softball team to overcome in the first game of a scheduled Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference doubleheader, played Saturday afternoon here at the WNMU Softball Field. The Pack, who lost that game 7-5, then fell victim to weather as rain delayed the second game at the top of the second inning. The ThunderWolves were leading the halted game, 7-0.
Action in that game will be resumed Sunday before the second regularly scheduled doubleheader. The start time has not yet been determined although the original Sunday doubleheader was scheduled for 11 a.m.
Although the Mustangs, now 5-17 overall and 3-6 in RMAC play, struck first in the bottom half of the first inning of game one, CSU-Pueblo (4-10, 1-2 RMAC) came back to take a 3-1 lead with two runs in the top of the second and another in the fourth.
However, a 3-run Stephanie Higgins double in the bottom of the fourth put the Mustangs on top for good as they extended their lead to 7-3 with additional runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Pack left fielder Jasmine Vogel (Jr., Oceanside, Calif.) then recorded her first homer of the season to complete the scoring in the top of the seventh.
Both teams finished with eight hits and two errors.
Higgins went 2-for-4 with a double and triple while Kale Gahn went 3-for-4 to lead the Mustang hitters. Madison Wolfe (So., Oxnard, Calif.) and Kennedy Smith (Fr., Fillmore, Calif.) each went 2-for-3 for the Pack.
The Mustangs' first run was unearned as the first error of the game proved costly.
The Pack then benefitted from an error as Wolfe singled with two outs in the top of the second before moving to third on a Smith single and error in centerfield. Both then scored on a Sidney Bailey (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) single, before she was thrown out on the bases to end the inning.
In the fourth, Wolfe hit a 2-out single to plate Ariel Lopez (Jr., Fontana, Calif.).
Higgins then delivered her big 2-out blow in the bottom half of the inning as Mustang pitcher Domi Shone earned the complete game win allowing three earned runs while striking out six.
Kelli Henry (Jr., Monument, Colo.) suffered the loss for the Pack after giving up six hits, five walks and three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.
In the one inning of the second game, the Pack batted around as they used four hits and three walks and a hit batter to score seven runs, all charged against starter Amber Taynton, who was replaced without recording an out.
Wolfe gave up a hit and an error but kept the Mustangs scoreless from inside the circle in the bottom of the first.
