ALAMOSA – A pair of high school girls softball teams engaged in a high scoring affair as Alamosa hosted Montezuma-Cortez Thursday at the Adams State University facility.

Both sides had big innings, but the Mean Moose had more of them as they went on to defeat the Panthers, 16-12.

“We helped them out a little bit,” said Alamosa coach Dominic Lomeli. “We have to play better defense.”

Cortez struck early with four runs in the top of the first inning. Reagan Veach drew a leadoff walk and Paisell Mestas doubled. Nevaeh Benn singled home both runners for a 2-0 lead.

Jayden White also doubled, and Benn came home on Aubrey Taveria’s sacrifice fly. Cejae Snyder singled to plate Madisyn Garr, who was pinch running for White.

The Mean Moose got back into the game in their half of the first. Jayden Wubben was safe on an error, and Taelynn Kreps-Smith singled. Araceli Molina then hit an inside-the-park home run to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Alamosa took the lead with a four-run second. Kennedy Hillis led off with a walk and Kreps Smith also received a base on balls. Molina reached on an outfield error, and Hillis and Kreps-Smith both scored on the play. Molina was out attempting to go to third base.

Shaya Martin continued the inning with a single and she took second on an error. She took third on a wild pitch. Leah Higareda also walked, and Martin scored on a passed ball. Higareda came home on a wild pitch for a 7-4 lead.

The Panthers regained the lead with a four-run third. Chelsey Kramer started the inning with an infield single, and Snyder also singled. Abigail Baker doubled home both runners, and Baker scored on Ava Hawkins’ sacrifice fly.

Veach singled and she came all the way around to score on an error and give Cortez an 8-7 lead.

Alamosa got the lead back with three runs in the bottom of the third. Sydney Haslett led off with a single and she advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches. She scored on an error.

Wubben drew a walk and scored on Kreps-Smith’s triple. An outfield error brought Kreps-Smith home for a 10-8 lead.

Cortez came back with a run in the fourth. Mestas was safe on an error and went to second on the play. Tinley Philpott, who was courtesy running for Mestas, came home on Taveria’s single.

The Mean Moose answered with three runs in their half of the fourth. Hailie Dupont reached on an error and another error put her on third. She scored on a wild pitch.

Haslett then singled and Valeria Cendejas walked. Kreps-Smith singled home both runners for a 13-9 Alamosa lead.

The Mean Moose put three more runs on the board in the fifth. Higareda was hit by a pitch, and Makissa Quinlan walked. Hillis singled home Higareda, and Annika Butero, who was courtesy running for Quinlan scored on a wild pitch.

Wubben walked and Kreps-Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Molina walked to drive home Hillis.

Cortez attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh. Taveria and Snyder both walked, and Baker was safe on an error to score Taveria. Hawkins walked to load the bases, and Anna Lisa Abeyta walked to drive home Snyder. Baker scored on Mestas’ sacrifice fly.

The Panthers, however, left the bases loaded.

Olivia Castillo went the distance as Alamosa’s pitcher. She allowed 12 runs and nine hits and she struck out two and walked four.

The Mean Moose had 10 hits and were led by Kreps-Smith who went 3-3 with a triple and three RBIs, Dupont who went 2-4 with a triple and one RBI, and Haslett who went 2-4. Molina led in RBIs with five.

Alamosa (12-6, 2-2) will travel to Wiley today to face the fourth-ranked Southeast Colorado Angels.

“They’re at the top of the league,” Lomeli said. “We’re going to have to give it our best shot and give ourselves a shot to win.”

Alamosa 16, Montezuma-Cortez 12

Montezuma-Cortez 404 100 3 – 12 9 8

Alamosa 343 330 x – 16 10 6

Abeyta (L), averia (4), White (5) and Mestas. Castillo (W) and Quinlan. HR – A: Molina (1^st inn., 2 on, no outs).