TURLOCK, Calif. – To start the Tournament of Champions, the Saints struggled in their opening game against Cal State San Bernardino, but rebounded strongly in the win over Hawaii Hilo.
 
The Saints allowed seven straight unanswered runs to Cal State San Bernardino as the Coyotes pushed SMU's losing streak to seven straight. However, it did not take SMU long to overcome it. In the second day of the game, the Saints scored a season-high 17 runs in their domination of the Vulcans. Brandi Schoessler pitched five strong innings to secure her 10th win of the year.
 
"We came out flat in the first game and fell behind and couldn't get any hits to ignite our team," said head coach Jim Peterson. "In game two, we came out inspired and scored early and that helped our team momentum. Brandi threw a really good game in the circle."
 
Cal State San Bernardino scored five runs in the first inning to establish an early lead. Sabrina Hicks and Trinity Favela both drove in runs in the bottom of the first to trim the lead to 5-2.
 
Over the next three innings, the Coyotes added two in the second, three in the third and finally two more in the fourth to end the game in five innings.
 
Against the Vulcans, Devyn Connolly continued her hot streak at the plate with an RBI single to right center in the first. Connolly then doubled in the second, scoring two more.
 
The Vulcans scored their only two runs of the game in the second inning. The bats came alive in the third inning with seven runs, highlighted by Hicks and Alyssa French's two RBI hits. SMU put the nail in the coffin in the fourth with six more runs to cap off their 17-run game.
 
The Saints return to action with two more games tomorrow, starting with Chaminade at 2:00 p.m. Live stats will be available on smusaints.com