LAS VEGAS  – On opening day of college softball season, the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets split a pair of games in the 10^th annual Desert Stinger Classic at Majestic Park field 10 Friday afternoon. MSU Billings provided an explosion of offense to down University of Mary 11-6 but the bats fell silent later in a 10-1 loss to San Francisco State University. MSUB will play two games tomorrow and finish with a single game Sunday to cap off opening weekend in Las Vegas.
 
Game 1 – MSU Billings 11, University of Mary 6
 
A pair of home runs by Allie Hughes helped the Montana State University Billings softball team secure an 11-6 win over University of Mary in the opening game of the Desert Stinger Classic at Majestic Park Friday afternoon.
 
Hughes finished 3-for-4 with a solo home run to left field in the first inning and a two run shot to left in the third. Payton Reynolds also contributed three hits including a solo home run, a double, and a single to total six runs batted in.
 
Alyssa Etheridge (1-0) pitched 5.0 innings and allowed four earned runs on five hits, walked seven and struck out three to get the win. Kaitlyn Alvarado (0-1) took the loss for University of Mary after lasting 4.0 innings and giving up nine runs (seven earned), 10 hits, and one walk having faced 25 batters.
 
Hughes blasted a pitch over the left field fence in the bottom of the first inning to give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead but the Marauders struck back in the third inning with a pair of runs. After an infield hit and an error by Kelsee Bushell at shortstop loaded the bases, Kaitlyn Alvarado drew a walk in a nine pitch at bat for University of Mary. A foul pop up to left field enabled Mariah Sanchez to score from third base and made it 2-1.
 
Jolene House led off the third inning with a single and Hughes hit her second home run to left to give the lead back to MSUB 4-2. Two hitters later, Payton Reynolds slammed a solo home run over the right center field fence to add insurance, her first hit as a member of the Yellowjackets.
 
The 'Jackets later opened up a five run fourth inning. House singled in runners on second and third with a base hit through the right side of the infield. Reynolds singled to right and a fielding error resulted in three more runs crossing the plate, giving the 'Jackets a 9-2 advantage.
 
A bloop single to left center by Kasidy Chileen scored a pair of runs for the Marauders in the fifth, cutting the deficit to five but catcher Madison Kelly threw out Chileen attempting to steal third base to end the inning.
 
In the sixth, Reynolds doubled to right center to score Hughes and Brittanee Fisher to make it 11-4. Maddy Lincoln pitched two innings of relief and allowed two unearned runs, walked one, and struck out five.
 
House, Fisher, and Austin each had a pair of hits for MSUB. The Yellowjackets scored 11 runs on 14 hits with two errors while University of Mary finished with six runs, eight hits, and one error.
 
Time of the game: two hours, 57 minutes.
 
Game 2 – MSU Billings 1, San Francisco State 10
 
The Yellowjackets lost to San Francisco state 11-6 after allowing the Gators three innings in which they scored three runs. MSUB struggled at the plate and earned just three base hits.

Michelle Castro led off the third inning with a solo home run to start the scoring for San Francisco State. After Tianna Jacques was hit by a pitch, she stole second base and scored on a double to right center by Katie Rohor. Nina Revoir doubled to put SFSU ahead 3-0. The Yellowjackets countered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Madison Kelly crossed the plate after an error was charged at first base to Roher.
 
The Gators took advantage of a lead-off single in the fourth, then benefited from three stolen bases and three singles to score three. Hailey Nunes came home and Castro took second on a well-executed double-steal to push the score to 6-1.
 
A two out double by Katelyn Sturm brought in a run for San Francisco State in the fifth and the Gators put three more across in the sixth to reach the 10 run mark.
 
The Yellowjackets sent three to the plate in the sixth inning but Austin grounded into a double play and Kelly struck out looking to end the game.
 
The Gators finished with 10 runs on 16 hits with two errors. MSUB mustered one run on three hits and two errors. Sturm went 3-for-4 for SFSU with one run batted in. Castro had two hits and two runs batted in with a run scored. Austin, Kelsee Bushell, and Cailee Morgan grabbed the only hits in the game for MSUB.
 
Haley Couch (0-1) took the loss for MSUB on the mound. Couch pitched the first 3.0 innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits, walked zero, and struck out one facing 14 hitters. Lincoln and Etheridge pitched a combined 3.0 innings of relief. Emily Mitchell (1-0) was the winning pitcher for San Francisco State after going 4.0 innings and allowing one run (unearned) on three hits, walked three, and struck out two. Samantha Gutierrez did not allow any runs or hits in 3.0 innings of relief for SFSU.

We started out strong but I felt we lost alot of energy and momentum throughout the game," Rayman said. "Credit to San Francisco State for taking the momentum and running with it. We are definitely still learning and growing as a young team. Tomorrow I expect two more tough games so we have to be ready to go."
 
Time of the game: two hours, three minutes.
 
THE BUZZ: Allie Hughes was named St. Vincent Healthcare player of the day for MSUB…The Yellowjackets went 4-1 in the Desert Stinger last season.
 
NEXT UP IN THE DESERT: The Yellowjackets (1-1) continue with game three of the Desert Stinger Classic Saturday against Minot State University at 11:30 a.m. on field 10 at Majestic Park. Live video and statistics are available through MSUB's Desert Stinger Internet Portal.