LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Northwest Nazarene softball team kicked off the 2019 season winning two out of three at the Desert Stinger tournament hosted by Montana State Billings in Las Vegas.

NNU (2-1) opened the day with a 4-2 win against No. 10 Concordia Irvine, then defeated Minot State 8-7 before falling to Cal State San Bernardino 6-2.

In the opener, the Nighthawks struck quickly as Brittany Genuardi hit a three-run shot in the top of the first. She was just the fourth batter of the season for the Nighthawks.

Pitcher Jordan Adams threw four solid innings to earn the win, while freshman Maia McNicoll threw three innings in relief for the save.

Anna Williams added a solo shot in the seventh.

In the second game, Minot State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but the Nighthawks quickly answered in the bottom half.

Williams drove in Cassidy Fifield with a double, Kylie Orr singled home another run and Genuardi capped the inning off with a two-run shot. Four batters, four runs and the Nighthawks led 4-3.

Williams later added her second shot of the young season, while Orr finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

McNicoll pitched in and out of trouble in five solid innings to earn her first win. Freshman Ashley Bliss came on in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and no outs. She gave up an inherited run, but otherwise was unscathed to earn the save.

In the nightcap, NNU fell behind 1-0 in the first before taking a 2-1 lead in the third.

Fifield started the rally with a double and scored on another double by Williams. Abigail Otto then singled her in.

It was all the scoring the Nighthawks could muster, though, as Rylee Thomas took the loss in the circle allowing five runs – four earned – in five innings pitched.

NNU is back in action for two more Saturday, playing No. 7 Chico State at 12:30 p.m. MST and Academy of Art at 3 p.m.