SILVER CITY, N.M. – St. Edward's softball clicked on all cylinders in two wins over Western New Mexico in the series-opening doubleheader. 

"It was nice to see our offense support our pitching staff today," St. Edward's head softball coach Leah Glasgow says. "We had a couple of awesome performances from freshmen on the team that helped spark our offense." 

GAME 1: St. Edward's 9, Western New Mexico 1

St. Edward's softball went yard at Western New Mexico's The Yard twice to score a season-high nine runs in a win over the Mustangs. 

Batting from the second spot, JERZIE PELHAM hit a solo blast in the top of the first inning to put St. Edward's on the board. The Hilltoppers added two more in the second on an RBI single to left field from ELLA HUTZLER. Hutzler scored on an error later in the inning. 

St. Edward's exploded for five more runs in the third inning, highlighted by Hutzler's three-run blast to score JORDAN NEELY and ALEXIS MASSIE, with the latter reaching on an RBI double to left field. KATIE DILLON later hit an RBI single but was thrown out trying to get to second after the score to end the inning.

Ciara Salazar put Western New Mexico on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning. St. Edward's responded with another run on a fielder's choice RBI from SLOANE HILL in the Hilltoppers' next at-bat. 

MCKENNA LEAMON (W, 4-5) pitched all five innings and threw eight strikeouts with three walks and four hits with one run scored. Pelham hit 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Hutzler also went 2-for-3, adding four RBI and two runs scored. 

GAME 2: St. Edward's 7, Western New Mexico 1

Pelham and Hutzler continued to punish Western New Mexico's pitchers, and CADIE BELLE CURRIE was mostly unhittable in the pitcher's circle to lead St. Edward's to another win.

Hutzler sparked St. Edward's with a two-run blast in the second inning for her fourth home run of the season. MEGAN MORRIS drove in Dillon in the third inning with a single. 

St. Edward's added four runs on four hits in the sixth inning. The Hilltoppers opened the inning with three consecutive singles, scoring YVONNE CASTILLO on Massie's hit. Hutzler walked to load the bases, then Neely walked to score LAUREN HOYT. After two consecutive strikeouts, Pelham hit a two-RBI single for the 7-0 lead. 

Munoz plated Western New Mexico's lone run on an RBI single. 

Pelham hit 3-for-4 with two RBI, and Hutzler hit 1-for-2 with two RBI, and two runs scored. Currie pitched all seven innings, striking out seven with no walks and four hits surrendered for one earned run. 

St. Edward's improves to 15-11 with a 9-8 conference record after the wins. The two teams will conclude the series tomorrow with a 1:00 PM CST start time.