Western Washington 18, Fort Lewis 2
Grand Canyon 11, Fort Lewis 3
 
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Defending Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament champion Fort Lewis (0-2 overall) dropped two games yesterday to open its season at the fourth annual Desert Stinger, a 28-team, three-day tournament hosted by Montana State-Billings.
 
The Skyhawks were eight-runned in five innings in both games, losing 18-2 to Western Washington (5-5) and 11-3 to Grand Canyon (5-1). Both games were played on Majestic Park Field 8.
 
“Today the team played hard,” said third-year FLC head coach Kira Zeiter. “As a coaching staff, we noticed some things that we liked and some things that we can improve on. Tomorrow is a new day and we're ready for two more games.”
 
Western Washington jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the top of the first, chasing Skyhawk starter Kassie Haubert, who failed to record an out while allowing 10 earned runs and eight hits and facing 10 batters. By the time reliever Katie Watkins completed the inning, the Vikings had set a school record for most runs in an inning. WWU broke an 11-year-old mark of 11 runs in an inning set twice in 2002.
 
The Vikings had 12 hits in the opening offensive explosion that lasted 30 minutes. They also benefitted from two walks, one wild pitch and three FLC errors.
 
Alexie Levin and Jackie Rothenberger each had four hits and, three runs scored and five runs batted in. Camille Depew also had four hits and scored five runs.
 
Watkins went five innings in relief, allowing eight runs (only five of which were earned) on 11 hits, striking out a pair of Vikings.
 
Levin (2-2) allowed just two singles in three innings pitched to earn her second win of the season.
 
Chelsea Rodriguez hit a two-run double off reliever Lauren Bennett in the bottom of the fifth to avert the shutout.
 
Things started much better for the Skyhawks in the Grand Canyon game. Kaitlyn Bending reached on an error to lead off the game and moved to third on Destinee DeHerrera's double. Rodriguez drove both in with a single to left center.
 
Fort Lewis stretched its lead to 3-0 when Rodriguez — last year's NCAA Division II national leader in free passes — walked in a run with the bases loaded in the top of the second.
 
Grand Canyon scored two runs in the third on an RBI double by Kailey Regester and a sacrifice fly to right by Stephanie Pesqueira. They tied it in the fourth when Regester reached on a bases-loaded error by shortstop Myndee Thompson.
 
The wheels came off for the Skyhawks in the bottom of the fifth when the 'Lopes plated eight runs to not only break up the 3-3 tie, but to end the game on the eight-run rule.
 
Errors played a big factor in the inning, as FLC infielders committed four errors — one by third baseman Rodriguez and three by second baseman Kamali'i Peneku. GCU's Nicole Upshaw belted a grand slam to end the game.
 
Early-season fielding errors are nothing new to Fort Lewis, which hasn't practiced this season on its own Aspen Field, which sits underneath a foot or more of snow at 6,878 feet above sea level. The Skyhawks have been forced to practice indoors on the hardwood of Whalen Gymnasium — not the most realistic substitute for taking grounders on dirt or turf.
 
Haubert (0-2) pitched five strong innings, allowing just a pair of earned runs. Errors factored into every Grand Canyon run after the third inning. Haubert allowed seven hits, but hurt herself with eight walks.
 
Regester (2-1) allowed just one earned run (two others were unearned) while striking out five and allowing five hits.
 
No player on either team had more than one hit in the second game.
 
Rodriguez, who was named to the All-Desert Stinger squad last year, drove in all five Skyhawk runs on the day.
 
Fort Lewis will face West Texas A&M (2-0) at 5:30 p.m. and Central Washington (0-2) at 8 p.m. Both games will be played at Majestic Park Field 8.
 
The Skyhawks wrap up the tournament against No. 24 Dixie State (4-0) at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at Majestic Park Field 2.