Zias win series finale

Freedom New Mexico

SILVER CITY, Texas — Senior center fielder Laura Thompson belted a go-ahead, two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning and Eastern New Mexico University held on for a 6-4 win over Western New Mexico on Thursday in the rubber match of a three-game softball series.

Thompson, a native of Towcester Northants, England, and the Zias’ leadoff hitter, hit a shot to center field for her second homer of the season, giving the Zias (19-17) a 5-4 lead.

Right fielder Alex Mayo Otis singled and scored an insurance run after the Mustangs (12-23) made two errors on a grounder by Rebecca Quinones.

Junior right-hander Kimberly Crouse (9-9) picked up her second complete-game win of the series, allowing eight hits and two earned runs with one walk and four strikeouts.

Thompson beat out an infield hit to start the game and scored on a double by Mayo Otis, who extended her hitting streak to 13 games. Singles by Kristen Cruickshank and Rebecca Quinones got Mayo Otis home for a 2-0 led.

The Mustangs took advantage of three ENMU errors to tie the game in the bottom of the second, then went in front in the fourth after Sarah Almonza led off with a double and came home on two groundouts.

The Zias tied it in the fifth when Cruickshank reached on an error and scored on Quinones’ double, but Western moved back in front in the bottom half on singles by Kortney Smith, Rebecca Reynolds and Kaitlynn Barnes.

ENMU collected 11 hits, including two each for Thompson, Mayo Otis, Quinones and catcher Michelle Anderson.

Western’s Priscilla Garcia (8-12) took the loss despite allowing only three earned runs. She walked one and struck out four.

Smith and shortstop Kristina Barr were both 2-for-4 for the Mustangs.