Softball | 2/6/2016 12:27:00 AM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Feb. 5, 2016) -- Kaylee Gemmell and Amanda Herrera each homered and LHP Cassandra Williams went the distance in the Coyotes' 8-5 win over West Region foe Hawaii-Hilo in the annual Desert Stinger Tournament on Friday night.

In the second game, the Coyotes fell to Colorado-Colorado Springs 8-7 after trailing by seven runs entering the seventh inning.

On Saturday, the 3-2 Coyotes continue tourney play in games against Colorado Mesa and Western Washington.

Coyotes 8, Hawaii-Hilo 5
Trailing 2-0 entering the first inning, CSUSB put four runs on the board, with Gemmell connecting on a two-run shot to left. Caelan Smith hit a run-scoring double, and Jessica Brown followed with a sac fly. Two batters later, Gemmell connected and the Coyotes grabbed the lead for good.

Herrera then came through in the third. Gemmell reached base on a one-out walk, and Herrerra ripped a blast to right center and CSUSB led 6-3.

Monica Maddox added an RBI in the fifth and Gemmell earned her third RBI of the night with a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.

Jessica Angulo had three hits, while Smith and Gemmell each went 2 for 2.

Meanwhile on the mound, Williams danced around trouble with seven strikeouts, four walks and scattered eight hits. Four of her five runs were earned.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Wednesday at Coyote Softball Park.

UC Colorado Springs 8, Coyotes 7
The Coyotes nearly overcame a seven-run deficit, scoring six runs on just one out in the seventh before falling 8-7 to the Cougars.

Trailing 8-1, Amanda Fitzgerald led off with a walk, and scored on Morgan Ratliff's triple. Ratliff then scored on Arianna Hernandez's fly out to right. Then after Smith singled, Caitlyn Olan homered and CSUSB trailed 8-5.

Three batters later, Maddox walked with the bases loaded, and Briana Quintana scored on a passed ball that drew the Coyotes to within a run of the lead.

But UCCS struck out Williams and Ratliff that thwarted the Coyotes' comeback.

Ratliff went 4-5, and Olan and Quintana each had two hits.