Coming Up – Holy Names (February 10, Oakland, California, 12:00 p.m./2:00 p.m.), Academy of Art (February 11, Brisbane, California, 12:00 p.m./2:00 p.m.).

COMPLETE MEDIA GUIDE

Live Stats/Live Video – Live Stats of Saint Martin's Softball Games will be available with links found on smusaints.com. Live Video is TBA on a game-to-game basis. Live stats and video will be produced by the Host School.

Social Media – Follow the Saints on Twitter (@smu_softball) and follow SMU Athletics on Facebook (Saint Martin's Saints), Twitter (SMUAthletics), Instagram (saints_athletics) and YouTube (SMU Athletics).
 
Desert Stinger Recap – In the first game, Back-to-back home runs by Tessani Dixon and Alyssa French gave Saint Martin's a 3-1 lead; however, Sonoma State tied the game and won in extra innings to begin the 2018 softball season at the Desert Stinger Tournament. Back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning, along with an extra inning RBI single by Sabrina Hicks was not enough as Sonoma State scored two runs in the top of the eighth to secure the 5-4 victory.
 
A complete pitching performance by No. 15 Cal State Monterey Bay quieted the Saints' bats, holding them to only two hits in the 6-2 loss on Friday. Devyn Connolly came through in the clutch, collecting two RBIs on a single in the third; her third hit of the day. However, only four Saints reached base in the game, and Cal State Monterey Bay slowly added six runs over the course of six innings.
 
After seven innings of a pitcher's duel, Cal State San Bernardino exploded for seven runs in the eighth inning for a 9-2 victory over Saint Martin's at the Desert Stinger. The Saints (0-3) were one out away from a 2-1 victory when a stolen base forced a throw, allowing the tying run to cross the plate and sent the game into the extra innings. Cal State San Bernardino (3-0) erupted for seven run in extra innings, highlighted by a three-run home run with two outs.
 
A late sixth inning two-run home run lifted the UC San Diego Titans over the Saints, 3-2, at the final day of the Desert Stinger. The Saints (0-4) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth when Tessani Dixon connected on the first pitch, with a solo shot to center field. However, the Titans responded with one out two-run home run to escape with a 3-2 victory.
 
Behind Kim Nelson's complete game four-hitter, the Saints rallied in the seventh inning with an RBI single by Tessani Dixon to tie, and the go-ahead sac fly RBI by Devyn Connolly to beat Hawaii Hilo 2-1 in the final game of the Desert Stinger. Trailing by one in the top of the seventh, the Saints (1-4) loaded the bases for Dixon who singled up the middle on a 1-1 count to tie the game. Next batter, Connolly, flied out to right, allowing Lauren Diuco to score from third and put SMU up 2-1. Nelson sealed the victory over Hawaii Hilo (4-1) with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
 
Diuco Picks Up Right Where She Left Off – After being named to the 2017 GNAC first team as an unanimous selection last year, Diuco hit .438 in the Desert Stinger. Collecting seven hits in 16 at-bats, Diuco also caused havoc in the base paths, going 5-for-5 in stolen base opportunities, raising her stolen base percentage to 90 percent in her career.
 
Lindsay Miller Chasing Record Books – Entering the year, Miller was only 33 hits away from 200 in her career. Only six Saints have reached the 200-hit mark. On the year, Miller has three hits and is now 30 hits away from history.
 
Kim Nelson Closing In On History – Nelson is eyeing two milestones this season, the 500-inning mark and 50-win mark. Only one Saint has reached the 500-innings and 50+ win mark in their career (Sam Munger). Nelson entered the season with 36 wins and 420.1 innings pitched. So far, Nelson has won one game, and has pitched 22.0 innings meaning she is 15 wins and 57.2 innings away from both milestones.
 
Freshman Devyn Connolly Impresses In Las Vegas – Hitting in the middle of the order, Connolly provided some much need quality at-bats. In the Desert Stinger, Connolly went 5-for-16 (.313 avg) with two doubles and four RBIs, both most on the team.
 
Holy Names Preview – Coming off of a 5-42 season with a 3-29 record in the PacWest, Holy Names looks to improve in the 2018 season. Picked to finish 12^th in the PacWest, Holy Names hit .233 as a team with 16 home runs and 125 runs scored in 47 games. The Hawks struggled in the circle, throwing a team ERA of 8.13 with 12 complete games and 80 strike outs. Holy Names will face Stanislaus State before Saint Martin's arrives on Saturday.
 
Academy of Art Preview – The Urban Knights enter the week 2-3 overall but face Cal State East Bay and Stanislaus State before hosting Saint Martin's. On the season, Art U is led by Gabi Hirsch who is hitting .429 with six hits in 14 at-bats. Samantha Klune and Lauryn Henderson provide power in the lineup with four home runs and 10 RBIs combined while hitting .389 and .385 respectively. On the pitching side, Brooke Larsen has been nearly perfect, posting a 2-1 record with a 0.88 ERA in 24.0 innings pitched. With four appearances, she has gone the distance three times while striking out 25 and only allowing three walks.
 
GNAC Recap – Simon Fraser holds the top spot; however, they have only played one game, one they won. Montana State Billings is second at 5-2 with Central Washington and Western Oregon tied for third at 3-2 overall. Concordia (2-3), and Northwest Nazarene (2-5) both are losing streaks with Saint Martin's and Western Washington rounding out the standings at 1-4 and 0-5 respectively.
 
Position Breakdown –
Outfield: Taylor Wolf, Regan Byrd, Alyssa French, Lindsay Miller, Courtney Baird, Emily Baca, Lauren Diuco, Emery Norwood
Infield: Macy Uyehara, Tessani Dixon, Nicki DeHan, Sabrina Hicks, Paige Miller
Catcher: Devyn Connolly, Julia Lucas, Kylie Lopez
Pitchers: Jessica O'Toole, Lauren Maley, Kim Nelson, Lindsay Miller
 
Preseason Coaches' Poll –

Pos.	Team (1st Place Votes)	Overall Record	GNAC Record (Place)	Pts.
1.	Central Washington (6)	34-15	20-8 (1st)	59
2.	Western Washington	34-19	19-9 (2nd)	51
3.	Northwest Nazarene (1)	23-27	13-15 (5th)	42
	Western Oregon (1)	29-24	14-14 (4th)	42
	Saint Martin's	25-19	17-11 (3rd)	42
6.	Montana State Billings	16-33	10-18 (7th)	21
7.	Concordia	19-28	11-17 (6th)	16
8.	Simon Fraser	12-32	8-20 (8th)	15