LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In its opening two games of the 6th Annual Desert Stinger hosted by Montana State Billings, Western Oregon University's softball team fell to No. 23-ranked California Baptist, 5-3, and No. 10-ranked California State University Monterey Bay, 11-0 in six innings, Friday at Majestic Park.

This is the Wolves' third and fourth game of the season against nationally-ranked teams, as Western Oregon will play six ranked opponents in its first 10 games, including its first four at this weekend's Desert Stinger, to open the 2015 season.

GAME #1 — #23 CALIFORNIA BAPTIST 5, WESTERN OREGON 3

Western Oregon entered the seventh inning with a two-run lead against No. 23-ranked California Baptist University, but the Wolves exited the Lancers' final at-bat trailing by two runs, 5-3, and suffered its first loss by the same score in their opening game at the 6th Annual Desert Stinger hosted by Montana State Billings.

Sophomore Destiny Kuehl led Western Oregon (2-5) with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate with a pair of runs scored and an RBI, while freshman Emma Alfonso added a pair of hits in three at-bats for the Wolves. Sophomore Sammi Cadwallader pitched a combined 2.1 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits en route to suffering the loss, while senior Jourdan Williams and freshman Lizzet Dominguez combined to pitch 4.2 innings allowing only two hits with a combined two strikeouts.

California Baptist (7-2) was led offensively by Savannah Miller with a pair of hits, while Jordan Mowatt added a pair of RBIs on one hit with two runs scored. Kayla Hatch went the distance for the Lancers allowing three earned runs on nine hits with a game-high tying two strikeouts.

The game began as a pitcher's dual over the opening two-plus innings until Western Oregon struck first in the bottom of the third inning on a run-scoring double to left center by senior Amanda Evola that scored Kuehl following her lead off single to left field to start the inning, as the Wolves took an early 1-0 lead.

One inning later, Western Oregon extended its lead to 2-0 on a RBI double by Kuehl that plated Alfonso after she roped a one-out single back to the pitcher.

California Baptist would get one back in the top of the sixth inning when the Lancers scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Ashley DeVaere that scored Miller to bring CBU within a single run (2-1).

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Western Oregon retook a two-run lead (3-1) on a RBI single by sophomore Kelsie Gardner that scored Kuehl after her second double of the afternoon one batter earlier.

California Baptist would step to the plate in the top of the seventh inning with one final chance to tie or take the lead and the nationally-ranked Lancers did not waste time, as CBU plated four runs on just two hits and took advantage of an error by Western Oregon with the eventual game-winning run coming via a bunt single by Miller before DeVaere added an insurance run on the Wolves' aforementioned error.

In its final at-bat, Western Oregon could not take advantage of a CBU miscue as the Wolves did not cross the plate falling in its opener in Las Vegas by the final score of 5-3.

GAME #2 — #10 CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 11, WESTERN OREGON 0 (6 INNINGS)

For the third game in a row, No. 10-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay mercy-ruled its opponent. Unfortunately this time was Western Oregon, as the Wolves fell 11-0 in six innings to the Otters Friday night in WOU's second game at the 6th Annual Desert Stinger hosted by Montana State Billings at Majestic Park.

Western Oregon (2-6) were once again led offensively by Kuehl with a perfect 2-for-2 showing at the plate to complete the opening day of the Desert Stinger a perfect 5-for-5 with two runs scored and one run batted in. Evola and sophomore Lexi Jennings also tallied a hit each, as the Wolves were only able to muster four hits against CSUMB pitching. In the cirlce, Dominguez went the distance to register the first complete game of her collegiate career despite allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 13 hits with one strikeout.

Cal State Monterey Bay (4-0) would get three hits from Courtney Varela, while Bianca Noriega, Lindsey Clarkson, Cori Reinhardt, and Bianca Arterburn combined to drive in 10 runs on six hits. Clarkson also went the distance in the circle allowing a mere four hits to go along with a game-high nine K's.

Over the opening two innings, a pitcher's dual ensued with both teams combining for a mere two hits until Cal State Monterey Bay put three runs on the board in the top of the third inning via a sacrifice fly by Reinhardt before Noriega blasted a two-run home run to left center that resulted in a 3-0 lead for the Otters.

In the top of the fourth inning, CSUMB added two more runs on Clarkson's two-run home run over the left field fence with the Otters extending their lead to 5-0.

Cal State Monterey Bay would added six more runs on six hits in the top of the sixth inning, including another two-run home run by Arterburn to go along with RBIs by Clarkson, Reinhardt, and Noriega resulting in the final score of 11-0.

Western Oregon will return to action tomorrow – Saturday, February 14 – on the second day of the 6th Annual Desert Stinger against Augustana College beginning at 3 p.m. (MT) at Majestic Park in Las Vegas.