LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Western Oregon University's softball team closed out play at the 6th Annual Desert Stinger hosted by Montana State Billings with a pair of losses to the University of Texas, Permian Basin, 5-4, before dropping an 8-0 decision against Regis College (Colo.) in six innings at Majestic Park.

Sophomore Kelsie Gardner led Western Oregon (2-10) with three hits, while senior Amanda Evola and sophomore Destiny Kuehl tallied two hits each for the Wolves. Against UTPB, junior Alyson Boytz went the distance allowing five runs (four earned) on 12 hits in 6.1 innings of work before a wild pitch handed the Falcons the walk-off win. In the tournament finale for WOU, sophomore Sammi Cadwallader went the opening 4.1 innings allowing eight earned runs on six hits before turning the ball over to junior Stephanie Morgan for the final two outs despite allowing one hit.

GAME #1 — TEXAS PERMIAN BASIS 5, WESTERN OREGON 4

In Sunday's opener, Western Oregon got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the first inning when Gardner scored on a error by the Falcons' third baseman after she led off the game with a bunt single.

Texas Permian Basin would break through in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a three-run home run by JJ Von Oesen that handed the Falcons a 3-1 lead.

UTPB would add another run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ashlynn Williams brought home Miley McKee on a ground out that handed Texas Permian Basin a 4-1 lead.

Western Oregon would battle back to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning after a two-run home run by Kuehl in the top of the fifth inning before freshman Alex Frazier belted her first career home run via a solo shot over the left field fence to tie the game.

After neither team scored in their next at-bat, Texas Permian Basin took advantage of a hit by pitch to Von Oesen to lead off the inning before she advanced to second on a single and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk that loaded the bases for the Falcons, Von Oesen took advantage of a wild pitch to score the game-winning run as UTPB earned the walk-off win, 5-4, against the Wolves.

Gardner led the Wolves' offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, while Evola and Kuehl tallied a pair of hits each for WOU.

Texas Permian Basin was led offensively by Mallory Hall with a perfect 3-for-3 showing at the plate, while Irene Valdez and McKee registered two hits each for the Falcons. In the circle, Kim Alonzo went the distance allowing four runs (two earned) on 10 hits with a pair of strikeouts.

GAME #2 — REGIS 8, WESTERN OREGON 0 (6 INNINGS)

In the tournament finale for Western Oregon, the Wolves were held to just one hit via a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning by sophomore Ku'ulei Siolo to break up Regis' no-hitter. Unfortunately that was all the offense that WOU could muster against the Rangers in suffering an 8-0 mercy-rule loss.

Regis began the scoring in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run by Nicole Aviles before the Rangers added a single run in the top of the fourth inning on a RBI single by Melissa Hermonea to extended their lead to 3-0.

In the top of the fifth inning, Regis exploded for five runs on three hits that included RBIs by Bradey King, Carlie Sexton, Taylor Wilcox, and Hermonea. Wilcox would register a pair of RBI on a single down the left field line, as the other three recorded solo RBI en route to the Rangers earning the eight-run, mercy-rule victory.

Aviles was the only player to register more than one hit in the game, as five other Regis players recorded a hit. Aviles also went the distance in the circle for the Rangers allowing just one hit in 5.0 innings of work to go along with a game-high tying three strikeouts.

Western Oregon returns to the diamond on Friday, February 20, with a pair of games against NAIA members Oregon Tech and Concordia beginning at 1 and 3 PM, respectively, at the annual Northwest Cup being played at Hood View Park in Clackamas.