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LAS VEGAS – The Crusaders softball team grabbed one win Friday at the Desert Stinger Classic hosted by Montana State Billings.

After seeing Colorado-Colorado Springs rally for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal a 4-3 win from Northwest Nazarene in NNU's opener of three on the day, the Crusaders regrouped to beat the University of Mary 11-9.

The day ended with a late surge by California Baptist, which grabbed a 9-4 win over NNU (4-3 overall).

"We played 18 really good innings out of 21," NNU softball coach Rich Wagner said.

Brianna Kinghorn hit a solo home run in the sixth for the Crusaders in their first game, giving NNU a 3-1 lead that disappeared as the Mountain Lions rallied for three runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

"We were unable to make that last clutch play to close out the win," said Wagner, adding, "our defense is slowly gaining the confidence it needs to be great."

NNU bounced back with an offensive onslaught in its second game, hitting four home runs in an 11-9 victory over Mary.

"Our offense continued to swing the bat with confidence," Wagner said.

Justine Callen hit a two-run shot in the first and Gatalina Schuster added a solo shot, as the Crusader duo went back-to-back.

Kinghorn's two-run shot in the third, part of a five-run rally, helped the Crusaders take an 8-6 lead in the see-saw slugfest.

Ali Schauer added a two-run shot in the fourth, which proved to be the winner, giving NNU a 10-6 lead.

"We hit another five home runs, including two from Kinghorn, who had six hits on the day," Wagner said.

Ashley Pesek (3-0) battled through five innings to earn the second-game win.

In the final game of the day, Kayla Sevier hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the second – NNU's sixth of the day and 15^th of the season through just seven games – to grab a 3-2 lead before the Lancers rallied late with three in the fifth and two each in the sixth and seventh for the victory.

"I am very proud of how our girls played today," Wagner said, adding of his pitching staff of Noelle Wright, Pesek and Callen, "we got great performances all day. Noelle dominated all day, including setting the tone against Cal Baptist by striking out the side in the first inning."

The Crusaders continue play in the tournament today with games against Cal State Dominguez Hills at 3 p.m. (MT) and Azusa Pacific at 8 p.m. (MT).