Western New Mexico University
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
PO BOX 680
SILVER CITY, NM 88062
505-538-6218

SOFTBALL ELIMINATED FROM  NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Altamonte Springs, Fla. - Western New Mexico's NCAA tournament run came to an end Saturday afternoon as the Mustangs were eliminated from the NCAA Division II national championship tournament by Shippensburg, 6-1.  The Mustangs finish the season with a 45-13 record after winning PacWest Conference and West Region championships.

Angela Slaugh took the loss after giving up seven hits and four earned runs in seven innings.  She struck out 12, but allowed two home runs.  Shippensburg's Kelley Tiesi went the distance for the win, striking out 11 and allowing just four hits to help Shippensburg advance.

Both teams scored a run in the first inning, but WNMU's offense struggled for the third game in a row.  Danielle Harmon scored on Cassidi Caringi's single in the bottom of the first for the Mustang's only run.  Caringi was 2-for-3 in the game, accounting for half of WNMU's hits.  The Mustangs scored just two runs in their three games at the tournament.

Shippensburg blew the game open with three runs in the top of the sixth and two more in the top of the seventh.  Liz Corr and Brenna Eck each homered.  Jaime Dacey was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.  Shippensburg improved to 48-5 and will face the winner of Caldwell and Florida Southern.

SOFTBALL DROPS SECOND GAME TO ST CLOUD STATE

Altamonte Springs, Fla. - After winning in extra innings in the first round of the NCAA II National Championship Tournament, Western New Mexico lost Friday's second round game, 2-0, to St. Cloud State in another pitcher's duel.  St. Cloud's Nicole Webb pitched a complete game shutout for the victory, striking out five and allowing just three hits.

Angela Slaugh took the loss for Western New Mexico after giving up three hits and two runs in seven innings.  She struck out 10.  Slaugh helped the Wolves rally for a run in the third when her throwing error started a two-out rally.  SCSU's Abby Velta singled to drive in Jessica Preiner, who had reached second on Slaugh's error.  Brooke Gentzler then homered to lead off the fourth inning for St. Cloud, putting the Mustangs in a hole they couldn't climb out.

The Mustangs managed just three hits.  Stephanie Kirkpatrick and Bethany Harris singled, and Tiffany Devaurs doubled.

Western New Mexico will drop into the loser-out bracket where the Mustangs will meet Shippensburg at 12 noon EST on Saturday.  Shippensburg eliminated top-ranked Kennesaw State, 4-0, Friday afternoon. 

SOFTBALL WINS FIRST ROUND GAME AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Western New Mexico's Tiffany DeVaurs stole the show Thursday morning at the NCAA II softball national championship tournament with a walk off home run that ended an eight inning pitching duel.  DeVaurs was 2-for-3 in the game, including the solo shot down the left field line that ended the game and sent the Mustangs to the second round, as Western defeated Caldwell College, 1-0.  WNMU will face the winner of the Northern Kentucky/St. Cloud State game at 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday.

"The first time up in the fifth inning, I was just looking for a base hit, trying to hit the ball up the middle and get on base," said DeVaurs.  "Then in the eighth, I was just trying to do the same thing. But the ball was on the inside corner and I was able to get a hold of it."

Western's Angela Slaugh, who caught fire at the the regional where she was named the tournament MVP, struck out 19 of the 28 batters she faced in Thursday's first round win.  She allowed just four hits and one walk.  Caldwell's Corinne Reiser was equally as impressive, giving up four hits while striking out 13 in seven innings.  Her only mistake was to DeVaurs to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.  For Devaurs, it was just her third home run of the season.

"The rise ball was popping," said Slaugh.  "You have to keep throwing them what they are going to chase."

Western New Mexico coach Freddy Flores said after the win, "I think we came out a little nervous, which is to be expected. Both pitchers threw outstanding ball games.  Now that we have the first one out of the way, I hope we can come out more relaxed tomorrow. At least we played half a game today, pitching and playing defense. If we can relax tomorrow, we can maybe be a little more offensive-minded."

SOFTBALL WINS REGIONAL - ADVANCES TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

ARCATA, Calif. — Western New Mexico's Angela Slaugh turned in another pitching gym, limiting Humboldt State to three hits as the Mustangs claimed the NCAA Division II West Region championship with a 2-0 victory over the host Lumberjacks. 

Slaugh, who earned West Region tournament MVP honors, shut out the Lumberjacks for the second straight day. In doing so, she struck out eight while walking none, improving her record to 37-6.

"We got beat by a good pitcher," HSU head coach Frank Cheek said. "She's worked hard, and she's the best pitcher we've faced this year."

"We put three games together," WNMU head coach Freddy Flores said. "It's all about establishing momentum, and we did that by winning the first game of the tournament."

Western New Mexico scratched for a run in the first inning, taking the lead when Jessica Garcia walked, advanced on a sacrifice and moved to third on a ground out ahead of Cassidi Caringi's run-scoring single. The hit was one of only four off Humboldt's Kara Roberts, who went the distance while striking out three and walking three.

The Mustangs added a run in the sixth, again parlaying a walk into a score. Danielle Harmon reached on the base on balls, moved to third on Kyle Hicok's single and came home on a passed ball.

Humboldt State's season ended with a 53-15 record while Western New Mexico takes a 44-11 mark into next week's NCAA Division II Championships in Orlando, Fla.

West Region All-Tournament Team
Angela Slaugh, Western New Mexico — pitcher, MVP
Crystal Duncan, Seattle University — catcher
Tracy Motzny, Humboldt State — pitcher
Vanessa Rodrigue, San Francisco State, — infield
Kyle Hicok, Western New Mexico — infield
Natalie Sharp, CSU Dominguez Hills — infield
Brandi Harrison, Humboldt State — infield
Andrea Williams, Humboldt State — outfield
Danielle Harmon, Western New Mexico — outfield
Sarah McClain, CSU Bakersfield — outfield
Cassidi Caringi, Western New Mexico — designated player
Cindy Perry, CSU Dominguez Hills — at-large
Sonja Garnett, San Francisco State — at-large

MUSTANGS ROLL -- KNOCK OFF TOP-SEEDED HUMBOLT 

HUMBOLT, CA -- Western New Mexico's Angela Slaugh held Humboldt State's usually potent offense in check, limiting the Jacks to two hits while striking out 11 in the Mustang's 3-0 victory.

The only run support Slaugh needed came in the fourth inning, when Cassidi Carnigi unloaded a massive home run to center field to break through against HSU hurler Tracy Motzny. Also scoring on the hit was Kyle Hicok, who had reached on a throwing error.

"You can't be satisfied when you only manage two hits," Humboldt State coach Frank Cheek said. "We've faced (Slaugh) before and we've beaten her the last two times we played them. I hope we get the chance to see 
her again."

Western New Mexico added a run in the fifth inning against relief pitcher Kara Roberts. With one out, Danielle Harmon singled to center, stole second and advanced to third on an error. Hicok followed with a single to left to score Harmon.

In the final three innings, Humboldt went down quietly. Slaugh finished the game by striking out the side in the seventh.

"(Slaugh) got stronger as she went along today," WNMU coach Freddy Flores said. "She pitched an exceptional game and we got the one big hit we needed."

MUSTANGS KNOCK OFF TOP-SEEDED HUMBOLT

Humbolt, CA == (May 6) Scoring runs in each of the first four innings, Western New Mexico flexed its offensive muscles in a 6-2 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills.

"Our offense put some runs on the board and our defense was solid," Western New Mexico coach Freddy Flores said. "Regardless who we're playing, we have to just deal with each opponent as they come along."

The Mustangs jumped quickly on losing pitcher Nina Disefano (5-9), scoirng two first inning runs on three hits. Key to the inning was Kyle Hicok's triple, sandwiched between singles by Danielle Harmon and 
Cassidi Carnigi.

Two more singles and a walk acounted for a run in the second, and Bethany Harris launched a home run over the left field fence for another in the third.

Cal State Dominguez Hills strack for a run in its half of the third, Cindy Perry driving home Natalie Sharp, who had doubled ahead of her.

"We ran into a tough pitcher and got behind a little in our rythm," CSU Dominguez Hills coach Jim Maier said. "We didn't really play our game. We didn't execute."

Angela Slaugh pitched the complete game victory for WNMU, striking out nine batters and walking none while giving up only four hits.

HPU SWEEP COMPLETE -- WIN THIRD CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Silver City (April 8) -- WNMU softball continued its impressive play today as the Mustangs reeled off their 17th-straight win Thursday afternoon and completing a four-game sweep of visiting Hawai'i Pacific University. The wins moves Coach Freddy Flores' squad  dangerously close to their third-straight PacWest Conference Championship and moved the Mustangs to 33-8 overall and 11-1 in conference play.

Senior pitching sensation Angela Slaugh (26-4) threw both games for the Mustangs, winning the early game in easy fashion 9-1, while holding on in the afternoon to win a tough 1-0 decision. The early game saw the Mustangs move  out to a 3-1 lead in the second inning before adding three runs in the third and fourth innings as well. The Mustang offense didn't fare as well in the nightcap against HPU's Clerisse Lemke (3-1), waiting until the sixth inning when Jessica Garcia scored on an HPU fielding error.  

The Mustangs have a few days off before heading west again for the Mountain Dew Classic next week in Bakersfield. 

MUSTANGS CONTINUE TO ROLL

Silver City (April 7) -- Three days after winning the Easton Tournament of Champions, the biggest Division II softball tournament in the West Region, Western New Mexico won two important PacWest Conference games against Hawaii Pacific on Wednesday.  Angela Slaugh threw a two-hit complete game to win game one, 6-2.  Megan Gross picked up the win in WNMU's 5-1 win in the second game. 

The Mustangs improved to 11-1 in the PacWest with just six games remaining on their conference schedule.  They will only play 18 conference games this season because two games were rained out at Hawaii-Hilo earlier in the season.  WNMU is 31-8 overall and on track to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.  The Sea Warriors fell to 6-4 in the PacWest and 15-10 overall.

The Mustangs' Slaugh struck out 11 in seven innings to improve to 24-4 in Wednesday's first game.  After HPU tied the game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, the Mustangs answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth.  Cassidi Caringi was 2-for-3 with a home run for the Mustangs.  Danielle Harmon was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.  HPU was led by Jamie Reyes, who was 1-for-3 with a two-run homer.  Jessica Parra took the loss, giving up nine hits and five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Gross spread seven hits over six innings in game two, striking out five and allowing just one run.  Jessica Garcia was 2-for-3 for the Mustangs with one RBI.  Meredith Drahota was 1-for-2 with two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored.  Stephanie Kirkpatrick was 1-for-2 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.  HPU's only run came on Anuhea Diamond's solo homer in the top of the third.

The same teams play again on Thursday with a scheduled noon start in Silver City.

MUSTANGS TAKE EASTON -- EARN BIGGEST TOURNEY WIN

MODESTO, CA  (April 4) — Danielle Harmon doubled in Meredith Drahota with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning and Angela Slaugh closed out her third shutout of the tournament as Western New Mexico slipped past San Francisco State 1-0 in the Gold Bracket Championship game of the Easton Tournament of Champions at Rainbow Fields on Sunday afternoon. The win was WNMU's biggest tournament win ever and catapulted the Mustangs from unranked to sixth place in the most recent NFCA Softball poll. 

It was Western New Mexico’s first tournament title, having lost on the championship game in 2002, falling 1-0 to UC Davis in the title game in nine innings.

San Francisco State was the surprise team in the tournament, entering with a 14-18 record before going 4-0 in pool play ands picking up six wins against one defeat.

Slaugh was the star all tournament long for the Mustangs. The senior hurler tied her own tournament record with four victories, and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. She held the Gators to three hits while striking out seven in the title game. For the tournament, Slaugh went 4-0 without allowing an earned run. In 27 innings, she struck out 41 batters and walked six.

The championship was a pitcher’s duel throughout as San Francisco State’s Sonja Garnett went toe to toe with Slaugh. Garnett allowed just four hits while striking out three in the loss.

The Gators had just two runners reach second, while the Mustangs had just two runners reach second. Garnett faced just three batters over the minimum.

Harmon had two of the Mustangs’ four hits, including the game’s only extra base hit and RBI.

In winning the Easton, WNMU took wins over San Francisco St. (1-0), CSU-Dominguez Hills (4-3), Western Washington (5-1), UC San Diego (8-0), Seattle Univ. (6-0), CSU-Stanislaus (2-0) and CSU-Bakersfield (1-0).

MUSTANGS DEMOLISH CHAMINADE

Honolulu, HI (March 26) Western New Mexico completed a four-game sweep of Chaminade on Friday to wrap up its Hawaii trip with a 5-1 record.  The Mustangs won 11-0 and 4-2 on Friday and continued their strong play of late as they prepare for the Easton Tournament of Champions in Turlock, CA. 

The Mustangs' Angela Slaugh threw a no-hitter in game one, striking out 11 and walking one is six innings.  Jessica Garcia was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.  Jennifer Snowbarger was 3-for-4 with four RBI, a double and a pair of runs scored. 

CARINGI EARNS PAC-WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Silver City, NM--Cassidy Caringi (Fr., 2B, Phoenix, AZ/Greenway HS) had a breakout week for the Mustangs. She batted .462 (6-for-13) in six games, almost 300 points higher than her season average. She drove in two RBI and scored three times while batting in the bottom third of the order for much of the week. She also drew five walks and was hit by a pitch for a .632 on base percentage. At second base, she committed just one error in 17 chances for a .941 fielding percentage.

WNMU LEADS PAC-WEST CONFERENCE

Hawaii--The Mustangs had the biggest week of any PacWest team, winning five of six games in Hawaii to take a half game lead in the conference standings at the halfway point of the PacWest season. Angela Slaugh was 3-1 with a 0.21 ERA in 32 2/3 innings.  She struck out 49 and walked five. Slaugh has struck out 228 this season and is just 79 Ks short of reaching her own PacWest single-season record of 307. Jennifer Snowbarger was 4-for-7 for the week with four RBI and three runs scored. Cassidi Caringi batted .462 with two RBI and three runs scored. Meredith Drahota drove in a team-high six RBI.

WNMU SPLITS WITH GRAND CANYON

Grand Canyon, AZ--The Mustangs split a non-conference doubleheader at Grand Canyon in Phoenix before leaving for their eight-game trip to Hawaii. Angela Slaugh struck out ten in a 1-0 victory. Rachel Stahle was 3-for-3 with the game winning RBI. No other stats have been reported for the series. WNMU plays at UH-Hilo on Monday and Tuesday, March 22 and 23 in four of the biggest conference games thus far this season. The Mustangs will wrap up the week at Chaminade on Thursday and Friday, March 25 and 26.

WNMU SWEEPS MONTANA-STATE BILLINGS 4-0

Silver City -- The Mustangs swept Montana-State Billings this weekend to open up Pac-West Conference play.  The Mustangs had big come-from-behind inning in Games two and four of the series.  The Mustangs were down in Game two on Saturday, 8-0, but rallied behind solid performances at the plate by Junior Jessica Garcia and Freshman Meredith Drahota.  Garcia hit .277 with  three hits, one RBI and one run and  Drahota put up two hits, two runs and one RBI with a .340 batting average to help the Mustangs finish strong with a 10-9 win over the Yellowjackets in extra innings.  

Senior Angela Slaugh was near flawless on the mound with 39 strikeouts in 22.2 innings.  Slaugh also contributed a total of five hits and two runs in the four game series.  Slaugh is now 14-3 and looking better than ever leading the conference with an ERA of 0.92..

The Mustangs head to Phoenix to face Grand Canyon, March 19.  Then on to Hawaii to play conference games against University of Hawaii-Hilo (6-0) on March 22 and 23, and Chaminade University (4-4) on March 25 and 26.   

WNMU TAKES THIRD IN LEADOFF CLASSIC

Dallas, TX -- Western New Mexico University's Softball team finished third in the Leadoff Classic.  The Mustangs went 4-2 overall.  Senior Pitcher Angela Slaugh made a major contribution to the team's third place finish going 4-1 from the mound, allowing 11 hits and three earned runs while striking out 50 in 28.2 innings of play.  Slaugh was honored with an All-tournament selection and also named the Pac-West Player of the Week.

Other stand-out players for the Mustangs were Freshman Meredith Drahota and Senior Danielle Harmon.  Drahota had the best 6 games of her career as a Mustang, hitting .455 with three RBI's and one homer.  Harmon showed up ready to play, hitting .412 with three runs scored and two RBI's.

Assistant Coach Woodard commented that this was a good showing for the program and a major boost to win on the road.  "We hadn't beaten anyone with a winning record before this tournament.  On Sunday (March 7), we beat Midwestern State (13-7) and Incarnate Word (12-9) which was big for this program this season".

The Mustangs, who are 12-6 overall, open up Pac-West Conference play this weekend, March 12 and 13 against Montana State- Billings who's overall record is 6-17.  The action starts at 12 and 2 pm at the Mustang Softball field.

WNMU DOMINATES HIGHLANDS

Silver City, NM – Western New Mexico University’s Softball team returned to their winning ways as they swept visiting New Mexico Highlands in four games February 14-15 in Silver City. The Mustangs, who were dominated by CSU-Dominguez Hills two weeks ago in their opener found their bats and reacted well to their home turf as they moved their mark to 4-4 on the young season. Highlands slipped to 3-6 after knocking off St. Edwards, Eastern New Mexico and St. Edwards in three straight games to open the season.

Game one saw the Mustangs blast the Cowgirls 4-0 with all Pac-West pitcher Angela Slaugh on the mound, throwing a no-hitter in her home debut. The senior, who holds virtually every WNMU pitching record went the whole game, throwing 10 strikeouts against 22 batters.

WNMU got out to quick lead in the first inning with a run from Stephanie Kirkpatrick, who tripled and then scored off a NMHU error. The Mustangs got on the board again in the fifth with a Danielle Harmon run and Kirkpatrick scored again in the sixth along with Bethany Harris.

Game two saw WNMU cruise again, winning 3-0 with Slaugh on the mound for all seven innings. This time veteran pitcher  faced 25 batters, allowing three hits, but sharp play in the infield kept the Cowgirls out of scoring range.   The Mustangs got runs from Jessica Garcia off a Bethany Harris single, Kyle Hicock off a Meredith Drahota single and a Harris double.

Sunday’s action was a near repeat of Saturday’s games with WNMU winning 5-0 and  3-1. Again Slaugh pitched most of the way for the Mustangs, going 5.1 innings in the first game and all seven in the nightcap. Freshman Julie Wooten came in for 1.2 inning’s work in the afternoon game. Slaugh allowed five hits and one run in the final game, after facing almost 150 batters in two days.

The Mustangs host their other in-state rival Eastern New Mexico on February 20-21.

HIGHLANDS GAME MOVED TO SILVER CITY

Silver City -- Western New Mexico University's Softball game with New Mexico Highlands which was orginally scheduled to be played in Las Vegas on Saturday has been moved to Silver City on the same days due to poor weather in Las Vegas. The Mustangs enter the game 0-4 after a trip to California power CSU-Dominguez Hills. Highlands.

MUSTANGS GAME WITH ADAMS STATE CANCELLED

Silver City -- Western New Mexico University's Softball game with Adams State has been cancelled due to poor weather. The game could not be rescheduled due the Grizzlies' scheduling conflicts.

  MUSTANGS DROP SEASON OPENER

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