Boxscores:
NNU vs. New Mexico Highlands
NNU vs. Regis
NNU vs. Lewis

LAS VEGAS - The Northwest Nazarene University softball team opened the 2011 season with a 3-2 victory over New Mexico Highlands on Friday afternoon at the 2011 Desert Stinger Invitational, hosted by MSU Billings in Las Vegas.

The Crusaders (1-2) also played Regis University and Lewis University later in the day, falling to Regis 5-4 and coming up just short against Lewis, 8-6.

Arielle Chao and Haley Hevern opened the season with a power surge as Chao hit three home runs and Hevern added two.

Game recaps...
Northwest Nazarene 3, New Mexico Highlands 2:  Arielle Chao hit two home runs and then walked and scored the game winning run in the top of the seventh on a single by Chelsea Allsbrook. Chao hit three of NNU's nine hits. Meanwhile, pitcher Nicole Grummons allowed seven hits and fanned five in recording the victory.

Regis 5, Northwest Nazarene 4: Natalie Adami led off the seventh with a home run as Regis rallied from a 4-2 deficit with two runs in the sixth and one in the final frame. Arielle Chao's two-run home run in the third had given NNU the early lead.

Lewis 8, Northwest Nazarene 6: NNU never could quite recover from a six-run Lewis first-inning. The Crusaders had 11 hits, including a pair of solo home runs by Haley Hevern. Becky Louber had a pair of singles.