The Lady Mustang softball team (2-0) opened up their season at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday afternoon. WNMU stomped Saint Martin's (0-1) in the first game of tournament play. The Mustangs finished the game with a win, 11-6. WNMU's next victim of the tournament was Saint Edwards. The Lady 'Stangs again generated a win, 4-3.

Versus Saint Martin's, sophomore catcher Kaitlynn Barnes (Phoenix, AZ, Deer Valley High School) hit her first homerun of the 2010 season while going 3-for-4 and dishing out three RBIs against the Saints. Kortney Smith (Maricopa, AZ, Marana High School, Central Arizona Community College), Amy Aicher (Snohomish, WA, Snohomish High School, College of Southern Nevada), Kristina Barr (San Diego, CA, La Costa Canyon High School, Central Community College), and Rebecca Reynolds (Benson, AZ, Benson High School) each collected two hits in the win. Barr was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. The team, as a whole, recorded 14 hits. 

Hannah Dodson (Alpine, TX, Alpine High School, Odessa College) (1-0) pitched five innings to lead the Mustangs to victory. She allowed nine hits, six runs, four walks, and struck out two. Emily Huhta (Albuquerque, NM, Manzano High School, Lamar Community College) relieved Dodson in the bottom of the sixth inning to finish out the game. 

For the Saints, pitcher Brandi Klemm (0-1) received her first loss of the season. Saints' hitters Kristi Sigafoos and Brandy Orgill were 3-for-4 against WNMU. 

Despite the five errors WNMU posted, they still managed to come out on top with their first defeat of the season. 

Against St. Edward's, the Hilltoppers got the scoring started early when Lisa Paul drew a two-out walk, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by Courtney Lavender. St. Edward's would tack on another run in the second inning when Stacy Giles led off with a single. After pinch running, Salena Acosta came around to score on a double by Brianna Bozon. 

Western New Mexico would answer with one run in the third inning due to the triple hit by sophomore outfielder Brittney Batten (Benson, AZ, Benson High School). Batten then scored on a passed ball. The next three runs crossed home plate in the fourth inning to put the Mustangs in the lead, 4-2. The inning started off with a single by Aicher to be followed by a double to right center by Barr. Barnes came up with runners on second and third and ripped a single to score Aicher and Barr. Barnes later scored on a throwing error by the third baseman. Barnes produced two RBIs and was 1-for-3. 

The Hilltoppers scattered one run and five hits over the last four innings, but it was too little too late. 

The winning pitcher for WNMU was freshmen Arriel Smith (Oakhurst, CA, Yosemite High School) (1-0). Smith allowed five hits, one run, and recorded three strikeouts. Huhta came into close the game again and earned herself the save. 

Junior Diana Cezeaux (1-1) was the losing pitcher, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits, while walking two and striking out 10 batters. 

Click here for game one statistics.

Click here for game two statistics.