A nine-run explosion in the third inning Tuesday afternoon sent host Rio Rancho past West Mesa, 10-1, in a game that decided second-place in District 1-5A.

The defending state cham-pion Cibola Cougars, who whipped visiting Gallup 18-0 Tuesday, visit the Rams at 4 this afternoon to close out the regular season.

Nothing seemed to go right for the Mustangs (13-9, 4-5) that inning, after they had kept the Rams (12-10, 5-3) off the scoreboard. Rio Rancho stranded a runner at third base in the first inning, and then left the bases full in the second. A dozen batters came to the plate, with pitcher Stacy Caldwell and first baseman Shannon Garcia delivering two-run singles in the outburst. Shelby Pendley, Julie Santillanes, Celina Johns and Jordan Bruere also delivered an RBI apiece.

The Rams used a single, two walks and an infield error to make it a 10-1 game in their half of the fourth, then were unable to end the game via the mercy rule after being shut out over the final two frames.

Caldwell led her team’s 10 hit attack with a 3-for-4 afternoon, while Garcia and Pendley had two hits apiece in the rout.

The Rams were coming off a doubleheader sweep in Gallup on Saturday.

In their 10-5 victory in the first game, Garcia, Cassie Grill, Christen Miller and Shelby Ripple had two hits apiece, and one of Ripple’s hits was a solo homer, in the easy victory.

Stephanie Dunham and Ripple had three hits and a double apiece in the Rams’ 20-1 onslaught in the second game. Pendley was the starting pitcher, helping her own cause with a double and a home run.

Bunts: The Rams’ five seniors will be saluted at Senior Day festivities before tomorrow’s game with the first-place Cougars (24-0, 8-0). Cibola won the first two meetings with the Rams, 1-0 and 3-2.

… The Rams were ranked seventh in the first state high school coaches association poll. Cibola was No. 1, followed by Onate, La Cueva, Carlsbad, Sandia and Alamogordo, then the Rams. West Mesa, Mayfield and Las Cruces rounded out the top 10.