LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Fleeing the chilly weather of Bismarck for the warmer pastures of Las Vegas, the University of Mary Softball team took to the diamond this afternoon for a pair of games in the opening day of the 2016 Desert Stinger.
 
The first game for the Marauders (0-2) came against Azusa Pacific University (2-1) as the Cougars stole a win in the final at bat with a walk-off double at 6-5, and any hopes of victory in the second game against California State University Dominguez Hills (1-0) was squashed early as the Toros held U-Mary hitless through three innings en route to a mercy-rule shortened game at 9-1.
 
GAME ONE vs AZUSA PACIFIC
 
Alana Norman wasted little time with her hit count as she smacked a leadoff double in the first inning, while Taylor Mendez drew the walk, for two runners on base for new Marauder Shawnee Zink to drive in with a three-run blast that gave U-Mary an early 3-0 lead before the Cougars even stepped into the batters box.
 
Another new face graced the circle for the Marauders as Taylor Lara assumed the role left behind by two departing pitchers from last season and the freshman went through some growing pains as Azusa Pacific got back-to-back singles to start their half of the first. Lara got some help from her fielders despite the third batter reaching on an error, but the error was instantaneously corrected as the outfield tossed out the runner at second, leaving the corners covered with one out in the inning.
 
Azusa Pacific went for the double steal attempt, but the Marauders were ready and waiting as Kylie Alto cut the throw off from Amber Gamboa and sat down the runner attempting to sneak home. Both pitchers found a groove after that points with neither team bringing anyone home through the next three innings.
 
The Cougars finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as they got a runner to second base with two outs in the inning, and brought her home with a double to center field, followed by a single, to cut U-Mary's lead down to 3-2 and drew a pitching change from head coach Kerry Shaw, who put in MeLanie Rodriguez. After an error on a stolen base attempt allowed a runner to get to third base, Gamboa put a stop to any hopes of tying the game as she back-picked the runner at third to end the inning.
 
The Marauders extended their lead back out to two runs with a solo shot from Mendez in the top of the fifth, and got one more on an RBI single from MeLanie Rodriguez in the top of the sixth that drove in Zink, but Azusa Pacific stayed within striking distance after sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth narrowed U-Mary's lead to 5-3.
 
U-Mary couldn't get any insurance runs in the seventh and the Cougars took advantage of defensive lapses as the leadoff batter in the bottom of the frame reached on an error and put together back-to-back steals that put her at third base with nobody out. The second Cougar batter of the inning drew a walk and stole second to put ducks on a pond with nobody out that ramped up the pressure on U-Mary's defense.
 
An RBI double from the ensuing batter cut the lead down to 5-4, and after another walk, Azusa Pacific put a stop to the game with a dagger RBI double to drive in two runs and leave the Marauders with a sour taste at 6-5.
 
Norman finished with two hits in the game to go with one stolen base, further cementing her status as the premier base-stealer in U-Mary's history in the NCAA.
 
Zink reach base in every at bat as she powered home three RBI on her moon shot to go with two walks and two runs scored.
 
Mendez added a homer of her own to go with two runs and one RBI, in addition to her lone walk of the game.
 
Lara lasted 3.2 innings and gave up six hits, three walks, but only two runs and one earned while facing 19 batters.
 
MeLanie Rodriguez ended up with the loss as she finished the game with 2.1 innings pitched with four earned runs given up along with three hits and three walks.
 
GAME TWO vs CAL STATE-DOMINGUEZ HILLS
 
The Marauders had no time to dwell on the heartbreaking loss as they took on the Toros in the nightcap. U-Mary ran into a buzz saw, unfortunately, as the Toros built up a 9-0 lead through three and a half innings while holding the Marauders hitless.
 
Mendez broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth, but couldn't find her way home as the next three Marauders were all sat down. Alas, U-Mary couldn't find the offensive spark as their lone run of the game came on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth from Lex Hubbard as she drove home Colleen Crutchfield, but the final two outs of the game came on consecutive strikeouts to put the score 9-1 final.
 
Mendez and Crutchfield were the only Marauders that managed a hit in the second game of the day, while Brieann Backes got the start in the circle but came away with the loss after two innings pitched.
 
The Marauders will have another doubleheader tomorrow afternoon as they take on the University of Nebraska-Kearney at 1:30 PM CDT in game one, and California State University Monterey Bay at 6:30 PM CDT in game two.
 
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