LAS VEGAS (Feb. 3, 2017)  - Tylia Sylestine knocked a two-run homer for Texas Woman's University during the third inning of the 2017 season opener against Augustana, but the Pioneers dropped the contest, 8-3, to the Vikings Friday afternoon at the Desert Stinger Tournament at Majestic Park.
 
TWU (0-1) gave up four home runs to the Vikings (1-1) that accounted for all eight of Augie's scores, while Chelsie McClure walked in the third Pioneer run to score Katy Stephens in the sixth.
 
The first inning looked promising for the Pioneers as Nicole Nordie walked, stole second and advanced to third on a Logan Polasek single up the middle. Polasek also stole second, but TWU struck out and hit into a double play to end the inning.
 
The Vikings picked up home run number two in the second, and TWU tried to even the score in the bottom of the frame with Stephens on third, but a pair of strikeouts ended the scoring opportunities.
 
Augie tallied two runs in the fifth to jump ahead 5-2, and the Pioneers came up short in the bottom half of the inning by stranding two runners on base. McClure's walk in the sixth narrowed the margin to 5-3, but the Vikings ripped a three-run bomb to left field in the seventh and held the Pioneers scoreless in the final half inning.
 
Tori Bice took the loss (0-1) on three runs, two walks and five strikeouts.         
 
The Pioneers return to the tournament tomorrow with games against Sioux Falls at 4 p.m. and Sonoma State at 6:30 p.m. CST.