News
Tough weekend for Rough Riders
By Dave Kavanaugh
Ashlea Ortega (sophomore, Rio Rancho, N.M.) homered and went 2 for 3 at the plate in a losing cause as Luna Community College softball fell 15-7 at Trinidad State Junior College on Monday in Trinidad, Colo.
The Trojans, who also won the nightcap 27-18, are undefeated at home this season and 8-5 overall.
For the Rough Riders, it was their first action in two weeks. Weather and road conditions in the Midwest led to cancellations of scheduled games with Lamar (Colo.), Otero (Colo.), Pratt (Kans.) and Colby (Kans.).
Dyani Cummings-Lani (freshman, Waimanalo, Hawaii), who doubled, and Rebekka Montgomery (freshman, Marysville, Calif.) had the only other hits for Luna in game one.
Luna dashed out to an 11-0 head start in game two, but Trinidad State exploded for a dozen runs in the third, the first of four big innings in an eventual win.
Luna (2-7) is scheduled to host Air Force Academy’s junior varsity at 11 a.m. Saturday at West Las Vegas softball field. The team will then host Texas-Rio Grande Valley at 3 p.m. On Sunday, the Riders play a twinbill vs. the Air Force team.
Luna baseball dropped three games to Dodge City Community College over the weekend in Canyon, Texas. The neutral site (West Texas A&M) was used instead of Luna’s home field, New Mexico Highlands University’s Brandt Park.
Dodge City prevailed 18-3 on Saturday, 6-1 and 17-7 on Sunday, pushing its winning streak to five games.
Dustin Sipe (freshman, Aztec, N.M.) hit 3 for 4 with a triple and a double and two RBI in game one for LCC. Luna combined for just four hits in game two of the series, but the Riders bats got going in the finale and Luna trailed 9-7 after a six-run fifth inning. Then the Conquistadors responded with eight runs in the top of the sixth to put the game away. Trent Dewyer (freshman, Albuquerque) hit 2 for 4 with a double and scored twice for Luna in that contest.
Luna’s Monday home game with Trinidad State was postponed.
The Rough Riders (3-12) will host Western Oklahoma State College in a twinbill beginning at noon Saturday at Brandt. The teams will play again on Sunday afternoon.