Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TUCSON, Arizona — The Fort Lewis College softball team opened play at the Cactus Classic on Friday, falling by an 11-2 final to Southern Nazarene and losing a tight 3-0 battle to the University of Texas-Permian Basin at Lincoln Park in Tucson.

Fort Lewis (2-5 overall) started the day strong, taking leads of 1-0 and 2-1 against SNU (5-3 overall), courtesy of RBI singles from junior McKenna Hefley and Brianna Leavell in the first and third innings, respectively.

Unfortunately for the Skyhawks, the game began to unravel in the home half of the third inning when Southern Nazerene struck for four runs, none of them earned, to take a 5-2 lead after an error opened the door for the rally.

With the bases loaded and one out, two runs came home on fielder's choice plays at the plate where FLC was unable to get a throw home in time for the force out.

"Defense definitely lost us that first game and it took Bri (Leavell) out of the game," said FLC head coach, Ashley Reeves. "We have to be quicker and we have to field those balls on the run. We couldn't have written up the plays any better to get ground balls right at someone in that situation, other than us getting the outs. Bri did exactly what she needed to do to get the groundballs."

Leavell would leave after 2.1 innings pitched and five runs allowed, with just one of them earned.

Offensively, the Skyhawks had five players record a hit as Kylie Hefley, senior Taylor Hollestelle and senior Kelly Decker all recorded singles to join McKenna Hefley and Leavell. Decker and Hollestelle each added stolen bases for FLC, which is now 12-of-13 as a team swiping bases so far this season.

As for Game Two of the day against UT-Permian Basin (7-5 overall), the Skyhawks played toe-to-toe with the Falcons behind a fantastic start turned in by redshirt junior Mandy Lorenson.

The Arizona native shined back in her home state, tossing 6.2 strong innings while limiting UTPB to three runs on six scattered hits, only one run earned, while striking out five versus two walks.

UT-Permian Basin took a 2-0 lead in the second inning after a pick-off attempt sailed into the outfield, allowing one run to score and another run to follow on a RBI single by Sydney Bishop.

Lorenson would keep the powerful Falcons' lineup off the scoreboard until the top of the seventh in what was a tremendous bounce-back start for her after battling control issues during the opening weekend.

"I think it was a huge confidence booster for her," Reeves said of Lorenson's outing. "I was proud of her for the way that she threw and the way she looked in control. That's what we need from her; to be in control of everything she has. We couldn't have asked for a much better outing from her."

UTPB pitcher Abrie Castillo completed the other half of the pitcher's dual as she limited the Skyhawks to six singles.

Freshmen utility players Sloan Shotton and Jalen Cooper each produced pinch-hit singles, with Cooper's hit coming in the seventh to help the bring the potential tying run to the plate for the Skyhawks. Unfortunately, FLC was unable to produce the key hit or string enough hits together to break through against Castillo.

"We tied them in hits, but we have to string hits together," Reeves said. "I think every hit we had was with an out already in the inning. We need to do a better job getting the leadoff person on."

Fort Lewis will now turn its attention toward two more games on Saturday afternoon, starting with a 12:30 p.m. matchup against California University-Pennsylvania. The Skyhawks conclude Saturday's action with a 3 p.m. game against West Texas A&M University.

"Great athletes learn to forget and have a short memory. We're learning how to do that and how to overcome some adversity. We're learning how to win games instead of playing not to lose," Reeves said. "When we figure that out, I think we're going to be a good team."