Softball | 2/14/2015 3:55:00 PM

Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The St. Edward's Softball team swept two games on the opening day of the Desert Stinger Classic Friday evening at Majestic Park. The Hilltoppers defeated Western New Mexico, 8-3, and Eastern New Mexico, 7-3.
 
St. Edward's (5-5) took on Western New Mexico (2-6) in their opening matchup. The Mustangs were the first to get on the board. Alicia Enriquez advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt from Linzy Granger. Then Stephanie Higgins stepped up to the plate and hit a home run, registering two RBI's and giving Western New Mexico a 2-0 advantage.
 
The Hilltoppers responded in the second inning. With FAITH ROBERTS on third and MORGAN DUFOUR on second, EMILY MAYFIELD reached on an error and sent Roberts to home. The inning ended with two runners left on base as LAURA ALVARADO flied out to left field. That cut the Mustang lead to 2-1.
 
The third inning saw great offensive action from St. Edward's. ALEX MAYFIELD started out the inning with a single. As KACI OLSON was up to bat, Mayfield stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Olson grounded out to the second baseman, but registered an RBI as Mayfield came in to score. Roberts then tripled and put another run on the board as her teammate CAITIE CARNEY scored after being walked. Dufour kept the Hilltoppers hot with a homer. The Mustangs finally closed it out, but the third inning saw a tally of four runs and four hits to put St. Edward's ahead, 5-2.
 
The Hilltoppers scored again in the fourth with another run from ALEX MAYFIELD. The Mustangs defense stepped up though. With bases loaded, EMILY MAYFIELD struck out swinging ending the inning.
 
SAVANNA BIJARRO led with a walk to put her on first, pinch hitting for CYDNEY ERVIN.  Ervin came back in to pinch run, stole second and advanced to third on the throw as Alvardo singled to the shortstop. ALEX MAYFIELD recorded an RBI on a bunt with Ervin scoring. Olson registered her second RBI of the game with a single up the middle as Alvardo raced home.
 
Western New Mexico tallied another run in the fifth as Granger scored, but Hilltopper pitcher K. Klug would keep the Mustangs under control the rest of the way. The Hilltoppers stayed on top 8-3.
 
In the second game of the day, St. Edward's battled against Eastern New Mexico (3-2). The two teams went head-to-head in a pitching match in which neither team could capture a run until the bottom of the third inning when Elizabeth Velasquez homered to left center.
 
St. Edward's answered with a huge offensive power surge in the fourth. Bases were loaded with pinch runner AUBREY RUIZ, Roberts and Dufour when KP PERCH reached on a fielder's choice, advancing C. Carney and registering an RBI. EMILY MAYFIELD doubled sending Dufour home. SAMANTHA GILMORE pinch hit recording a single and then advancing on the throw. She brought in two runs, sending Mayfield and Perch back to the dugout. Ervin checked in for Gilmore and quickly stole third. Alvarado singled and sent Ervin the rest of the way around. Three runners were left on base at the end of the inning, but the damage had been done with five runs and six hits. 
 
The fifth and seventh innings saw two more Hilltopper runs from Perch and Dufour who homered to left center.
 
Entering the bottom of the seventh, St. Edward's had a 7-1 lead. Hilltopper pitcher SARAH DEBROW had held the Zias to just one run. Eastern New Mexico had fight left however. Two errors in the inning led to two unearned runs by the Zias, bringing the score to 7-3. With a man on third base, Morgan Green looked to keep the comeback rally alive. Debrow had different plans though as Green struck out swinging.
 
St. Edward's continues the Desert Stinger Classic with two games Saturday. They will take on St. Cloud State at 11:30 a.m. MST, and Fort Lewis College at 2:00 p.m. MST. Live coverage will be available on Montana State-Billings Website.