Paula Congleton owes Nevada softball coach Linda Garza $7.
It was well worth it to the University of New Mexico softball coach.
Last Sunday in Reno, Congleton moved her senior star slugger Andrea Howard up to the leadoff position because opposing Mountain West coaches have apparently seen enough of Howard swinging the bat.
The Lobo center fielder is leading or among the league leaders in home runs, batting average, RBIs and basically every offensive category you can think of, which led to a string of six games – three vs. Fresno State and three vs. Nevada – in which Howard had 23 plate appearances and was walked 18 times.