SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Chadron State College softball team opened its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season by splitting a doubleheader Tuesday at Western New Mexico University in Silver City.
The Eagles scored 6 unanswered runs to claim an 8-6 victory in the second game after falling to Western New Mexico 8-3 in the opener.
The Mustangs had 14 hits and scored at least 1 run in each of the first 4 innings in the first game. Michaela Miller went 4-for-4 and knocked in 4 runs for the home team while Lynette Ebert and Katie Bolin each had a double and a single to pace the CSC offense.
The Eagles bounced back in the second game, but only after falling behind 6-2 after 3 innings. CSC took advantage of 5 Western New Mexico errors over the final 4 frames.
They scored 3 unearned runs in the 5th to close the gap, then used another error in the top of the 6th to set up a game-tying single by Bolin.
Neither team could score in the 7th, and 2 quick outs to open the 8th made that inning look dim for the Eagles...but they responded by loading the bases on singles by Blair McEndaffer, Alison Hendrisen, and Bolin.
Jamie Mazankowski...2-for-5 in the game...then delivered a 2-run single that proved to be the difference when pitcher Cassie Humphrey sat the Mustangs down 1-2-3, ending the game with a strike out.
Although WNMU had more hits than CSC – 11 to 9 – Humphrey allowed only 2 of them after the 3rd inning and let no runner get past 2nd base.
The senior from Chadron...one of the first players to sign with the Eagles...ended up 8 strikeouts and 2 walks in going the distance for her first win of the season.
Mazankowski and Bolin each had 2 hits...Mazankowski driving in 3 runs and Bolin 2...while Melissa Lohr walked 3 times and scored 2 runs.
The doubleheader was the RMAC opener for both teams. For the season, CSC is 4-7, Western New Mexico 5-9.
They play another doubleheader today, then the Eagles drive to Durango, Colorado, for RMAC doubleheaders Friday and Saturday against Fort Lewis College.
Fort Lewis will also be hosting the NCAA D-2 Central Region women's basketball tournament Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
