Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAS VEGAS, NEV. – A walk-off propelled the Western New Mexico University softball team to an opening game 2-1 win over Texas-Permian Basin. In the nightcap, Notre Dame de Namur struck early and held off the Lady Mustangs with a 7-3 win during the first day of the Desert Stinger.


Offense was hard to come by in the opener, but a timely hit by senior Mariah McDonald (Silver City/Silver City High School) cashed in a pair of runs to help WNMU walk-off to the season opening win, 2-1, over Texas-Permian Basin.


The Lady Mustangs had just three hits through the first six innings, but senior Breanna Diaz (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield) led off the seventh reaching on an error and after a pop out, sophomore Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) also reached on a fielder's choice error to put runners at first and second with one out. A fly out followed for the second out, putting runners at the corners when McDonald came through with the clutch two-run double to center that scored both Diaz and Castillo for the 2-1 victory.


Neither team scored through the first two innings, although WNMU threatened in the second. Senior Ricki Gentry (Lakeside, CA/Christian High School) singled and after two outs, a fielder's choice and walk loaded the bases, but a fly out ended the threat.


The next inning, Texas-Permian Basin scored their lone run of the game as a two-out single drove in the run for the 1-0 lead.


The Lady Mustangs would get a runner to third in the fourth, but that would end up being their last threat until plating the tying and winning runs in the seventh.


UTPB outhit WNMU, 6-4, as sophomore left-hander Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) went the distance in the circle, allowing just one earned run, along with a walk and three strikeouts. Gentry had a multi-hit game posting a 2-3 day at the plate.


In the nightcap, Notre Dame de Namur scored three runs each in the second and third innings on their way to a 7-3 victory.


The Argonauts scored three runs on just a hit in the second and then scored three more in the third on four hits to open an early 6-0 advantage.


After Notre Dame de Namur added a run in the fifth to go ahead, 7-0, the Lady Mustangs came back in the sixth. Junior Stephanie Higgins (Escondido, CA/Mission Hills High School) started the inning with a double to right-center. After McDonald walked, senior Kale Gahn (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle High School) doubled to left-center that scored Higgins and moved McDonald to third. Gentry delivered a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat plating McDonald and leaving WNMU down five, 7-2, after six.


In the seventh, sophomore Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) reached on an error. After a pair of outs that moved Enriquez to second, sophomore Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) reached on a single to shortstop to put runners at the corners. Higgins singled to left to score Enriquez to provide the final run.


The Argonauts held a 7-6 advantage in hits, while both teams committed two errors. Higgins and McDonald, batting leadoff and second, respectively, each posted two hits to lead the offense. Senior Amber Taynton (Lakeside, CA/El Capitan) tossed all six innings in the circle for WNMU, allowing six earned runs, along with six walks and six strikeouts.


WNMU will continue the Desert Stinger Saturday against West Texas A&M and St. Mary's (TX).