Upper Iowa box score

St. Edward's box score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Fort Lewis College softball team (0-2 overall) opened its 2011 season — the first under rookie skipper Kira Zeiter — with a pair of losses in the first day of the Desert Stinger, hosted by Montana-State Billings yesterday afternoon.

The Skyhawks dropped the season-opener to Upper Iowa (1-0) 11-10, rallying for three runs in the top of the seventh before ultimately stranding the tying run at second base. Pinch hitter Kamali'i Peneku started the fireworks with a run-scoring double and eventually trimmed the lead to one when she successfully stole home one a double steal with two outs. Jordan Willis struck out, though, with Erica Conley stranded on second.

Kayla Bruner, Chelsea Rodriguez and Cierra Walters each had three hits for the Skyhawks against Upper Iowa. Conley finished the game with three RBI.

Kassie Haubert (0-1) took the loss in the first game, striking out a pair of batters while surrendering nine hits, seven earned runs and five walks. Upper Iowa's Brooklyn Koranda (1-0) struck out four Skyhawks while surrendering 15 hits and eight earned runs to pick up the victory. Ashley Brown struck out the only batter she faced to earn the save.

Hannah Jones went three-for-four with four RBI and two runs for Upper Iowa.

Fort Lewis outhit the Peacocks 15-13 while stranding seven runners.

The Skyhawks lost their second game of the Desert Stinger 13-3 to St. Edward's (3-3) in a game that went just five innings due to the eight-run rule.

Willis went two-for-three at the plate with a double, run scored and RBI. Destinee DeHerrera had a perfect game at the plate, going two-for-two.

Alyse Harris (0-1) surrendered 13 runs, of which only six were earned, in 3.1 innings of work. She walked four and allowed eight hits, though, including four home runs. Lana Jo Hairston (1-0) pitched five innings, striking out four while allowing just six hits and three earned runs to pick up the victory for the Hilltoppers.

Stacy Giles belted two homers and drove in three runs for St. Edward's, while Jenny Varteressian and Kendall Lucas also smacked round trippers.

The Skyhawks continue the Desert Stinger with two games today: vs. St. Martin's at 2:30 p.m. and Augustana at 5:00 p.m. FLC concludes their games in Sin City with a 2:30 p.m. Sunday showdown against Notre Dame de Namur.