Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Las Vegas, N.M.—The OPSU Softball team notched one more Tuesday afternoon as they took a break from Heartland Conference play for a match up against New Mexico Highlands University. The Aggies were defeated 13-2 in game one, but game back for the 5-4 win in game two.

The Cowgirls gained an early 3-1 lead in the first inning after OPSU earned their first run on a sacrifice fly from Darcie Wilson; NMH then took two singles and a sac-fly for three RBI in the bottom half of the inning. Criselda Luna started off in the circle for the Aggies and went 2.2 innings allowing a combined ten hits for 13 runs (six earned). The Aggies scored one more run in the third on another sac-fly by Wilson, but the Cowgirls added one run in the second and nine in the bottom of the third to take a run-rule victory in five innings. The fourth and fifth innings remained scoreless for both teams. Samantha Arledge and Julia Ibarra each pitched relief for Luna; zero hits and zero base on balls were allowed by the duo. The Aggies had five hits and five errors in the game, leaving six runners on base.

Arledge opened in game two and lasted a full seven innings for the Aggies; she took six hits and four runs (zero earned) and served up seven strikeouts in her eighth win of the season. The Aggies totaled eight hits in the games, starting with a single by Julia Ibarra with one out in the first inning. Ibarra moved to third on two hit batters but all three runners were left on base with the final two outs. Highlands was held to two hits and zero runs through the third inning, and the Aggies added the first run of the game in the top of the fourth. Darcie Wilson led off with a triple down the right field line and was followed up by Sarah Gregori who reached base on an error and then proceeded to steal second. A foul-out pushed through Wilson to put the Aggies on the board first with a score of 1-0. An error by the Aggie infield led to three runs for the Cowgirls in the bottom of the fourth giving NMH a 3-1 advantage.

Luna stepped up with a solo home run to lead off the fifth inning and narrow the game by one run. The Cowgirls came back with a run in the bottom half of the inning with a two-out, RBI single. Gregori led off the sixth with a single and, after an error, advanced to third base and was sent home on a single by Janna Ruether. After six innings the Aggies were just one run behind (3-4); Arledge threw two strikeouts and held the Cowgirls hitless in the sixth. At the top of the seventh, Ibarra opened with a single and crossed home on a hard-hit homer by Madison Heathington putting the Aggies in the lead 5-4. Three of the Cowgirls' four batters were put out in the bottom of the inning and OPSU notched their nineteenth win of the season. The Aggies now own an overall record of 19-29, their best record since 2012 when the team finished 19-30.

The Aggies will wrap up regular season play this weekend with a home field matchup against Oklahoma Christian University. The three-game, Heartland Conference series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday, April 22 starting at 1 p.m. Seniors will be recognized prior to Saturday's season finale which is set for Noon. Fans are invited to pack the stands and celebrate a great season with the OPSU Softball team!