West Texas A&M 14, Fort Lewis 4
Fort Lewis 14, Central Washington 10
 
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — With its powerful bats coming to life, Fort Lewis (1-3 overall) split its two yesterday at the fourth annual Desert Stinger, a 28-team, three-day tournament hosted by Montana State-Billings.
 
The Skyhawks lost to West Texas A&M (3-0) 14-4 in their first game of the day, but rallied to defeat Central Washington (0-4) in their second game.
 
“It feels good to get the first win under our belts,” said third-year FLC head coach Kira Zeiter. “Our bats really came alive today and it really takes pressure off the pitching and defense. We are getting better every day.”
 
The Skyhawks got off to a scary start in the second game. With freshman Victoria Johnson making her collegiate debut, Central Washington plated eight runs on six hits in the top of the first to grab an 8-0 lead. The big blow was a one-out, three-run homer to center by Jill McDaniels.
 
Fort Lewis settled down after that and began chipping away at the lead in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Kaylynn Harmon smashed a two-run blast to left center for her first four-bagger of the year to trim the lead to 8-2.
 
The Skyhawks took the lead with an eight-run frame of their own in the second, spraying six hits off Wildcat pitchers Kimberly Kocik and Heidi Wells. After a ground out to start the inning, the Skyhawks quickly loaded the bases and kept playing station-to-station softball with Missy Fundora, Kaitlyn Bending, Chelsea Rodriguez and Harmon picking up RBIs in successive at-bats on three straight singles and an error on a hard-hit ball to second. When Wells relieved Kocik, Myndee Thompson smacked a two-run double to left center to plate two more and tie the score. Tehenia Telliano then hit a two-run single to right to give FLC its 10-8 lead.
 
Telliano hit a second, two-run single to left in the fourth to extend the lead to 12-8.
 
Rodriguez led off the fifth with a solo shot to center — her first homer of the season. Pinch-hitter Kamali'i Peneku singled to center to plate Harmon later in the inning to push FLC's advantage to 14-8.
 
The Wildcats cut the lead to 14-10 when Cassi Ellis belted a two-run homer to right in the top of the seventh, but Johnson retired three of the next four batters to end the game and pick up her first collegiate victory.
 
Johnson (1-0) gave up 10 runs (six earned) while striking out four. The Wildcats had 11 hits off the Skyhawk right hander, but over half of those knocks came in the first frame.
 
Kocik suffered the loss for the Wildcats, giving up nine runs (eight earned) in just 1.1 innings of work. Wells surrendered four runs in 2.2 innings of action, while Maria Gau allowed just one run in the final two innings of relief.
 
The Skyhawks scattered a season-high 17 hits against CWU. Bending went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. Fundora, Harmon, Rodriguez, Telliano and Thompson each had two hits. Telliano drove in a team-high four runs, while Harmon scored three times with a pair of RBI.
 
Ellis, Elena Carter, Amanda Hopkins and Michaela Hazlett each had two hits for the Wildcats.
 
In the opening game, West Texas A&M's Lacey Taylor hit a grand slam in the top of the fourth to start an offensive explosion that saw the Buffs rally from a 3-1 deficit to score 13 straight runs.
 
The Skyhawks took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on RBI singles by Bending and Harmon. They extended their lead to 3-1 in the second when Erica Conley scored on a wild pitch.
 
Hayley Bolyard hit her first home run of the season — a solo shot down the left field line in the bottom of the seventh — to account for FLC's final run.
 
Harmon went 3-for-4 in the opening game, while Bending, Fundora and Jeo Rios each had two hits.
 
Kassie Haubert (0-3) worked 5.1 innings, allowing eight runs (six earned) on seven walks and five hits while striking out three. Katie Watkins pitched the final 1.2 innings, surrendering six runs (five earned) on four hits.
 
Lauren Heinrich (1-0) picked up her first career win for WTAMU by pitching 4.2 innings of relief, allowing one run on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
 
Mallory Wyatt was the lone Buff to register multiple hits, including her first career homer.
 
The Skyhawks wrap up the tournament against No. 24 Dixie State (4-1) at 12:30 p.m. today at Majestic Park Field 2.