LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Adams State Grizzlies Softball team split today's doubleheader with New Mexico Highlands University. The Cowgirls (8-21, 7-16 RMAC) took game one, 9-1 in six innings of play. The Grizzlies (8-31, 8-19 RMAC) took game two 6-3 in eight innings.
The game opened up with solid pitching from the Cowgirls, striking out the first two Grizzy batters. New Mexico Highlands kept their momentum going in to the bottom of the first. With one out and one aboard, the Cowgirls homered to right center, giving New Mexico Highlands the early 2-0 lead.
At the top of the second,
Rebecca Wood hit a lead-off double down the left field line.
Baylie Fryar advanced Wood to third from a sac bunt. The Grizzlies did not capitalize on their opportunity. Grizzly pitcher,
Jade Garbiso, had a three-up-three down second inning.
The Cowgirls extended their lead in the bottom half of the third inning. With a lead off double, New Mexico Highlands was able to advance their runner to third on a single to center field. The runner on third scored from a sac fly in foul territory.
Leading 3-0, the Cowgirls added one more tally on the board in the fourth. The Cowgirls scored on a bases loaded opportunity, as the batter was hit by a pitch.
After a quiet fifth inning, the Grizzlies got on the board in the top of the sixth. Haskins lead the inning off with a double down the right field line.
Jasmine Parker came in to pinch run, and was brought home from a huge double down the left field line from
Zoe Munn. The Grizzlies trailed 4-1 going in to the bottom of the sixth.
On six hits, the Cowgirls scored five runs in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, and runners on first and second, a Cowgirl double scored one. Having runners on the corners, New Mexico Highlands added two more with a single up the middle. Adding two more singles, the Cowgirls reached their final score, 9-1.
Samantha McDonald led the Grizzly bats in game one, going 2-2 with one stolen base. Haskins and Munn were also leaders for the Grizzlies, Haskins going 2-3 and Munn 1-1 with an RBI.
Game two had a much quieter start to the game. The first run was not scored until late in the fourth inning.
Adams State pitcher,
Brittany Phillips had a great start with three-up-three-down in the first two innings. Phillips faced ten batters in her first three innings.
New Mexico Highlands was the first to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, the Cowgirls grounded out to second, scoring one.
Adams State responded in the top of the fifth. McDonald hit a lead-off double to left center to start the inning. Micciulli singled, and advanced McDonald to third.
Sarah Rocha then doubled to right center, scoring two, giving the Grizzlies the lead. Rocha advanced to third from a ground out by Haskins. Rocha scored the Grizzly's third run from a wild pitch.
Adams State led 3-1 for the remainder of the fifth, and top of the sixth. New Mexico Highlands got one back in the bottom half of the sixth from a homer to left field.
The Cowgirls tied the game at three in the bottom of the seventh. New Mexico Highlands opened the inning with a lead-off walk. The runner at first was advanced to second by a bunt in the infield. From a single up the middle, the Cowgirls tied the game, sending it to extra innings.
The Grizzlies opened the eighth with a double to left center from Fryar. Garbiso reached on a throwing error from Cowgirl pitcher, and Fryar made it around the bases to regain their lead 4-3. McDonald singled up the middle and advanced Garbiso to third. Micciulli doubled to center field to score two more.
Phillips had another three-up-three-down inning in the bottom of the eighth, to give the Grizzlies the win.
Phillips moves to 3-11, with two strikeouts on the day. Leading the Grizzly bats again is McDonald, going 4-4 with two stolen bases and scoring two runs. Micciulli and Fryar both with 2-3 in game two.
The Grizzlies will meet then Cowgirls back on the field tomorrow at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Las Vegas, New Mexico to conclude their four-game series.
