Runs in their opponents final innings at the plate cost the UTPB softball team in a pair of 2-1 and 5-3 losses against Western New Mexico and Fort Lewis in the first day of action at the 2014 Desert Stinger in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Falcons were an out away from picking up a 1-0 victory in the first game of the day against the Mustangs, but a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh to center with runners on first and third allowed a pair of unearned runs to score to give WNMU the 2-1 walk-off victory.

UTPB had earlier scored the lone run up to that point in the top of the third when Aurora Burks singled into right with a pair of runners on base to score Jennifer Quam from third to take the 1-0 lead.

The Falcons out-hit Western New Mexico 6-to-4 on the day, getting hits from six different batters.

Desiree Valero was saddled with her third loss of the season despite holding the Mustangs to four hits and a pair of walks in 6.2 innings .

Late runs cost the Falcons again in their second game of the day against Fort Lewis. Having come from behind twice to tie the game at 3-3, UTPB fell behind for the third time in the game on a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth in what proved to be the final runs of the night to give the Skyhawks a 5-3 win.

Trailing 2-0 after the first, UTPB tied the contest in the top of the third behind a pair of back-to-back singles with two outs from Taleas Marble and Miley McKee to drive in Niki DiSera and Nikki Brailsford, respectively, and even the game at 2-2.

When the Skyhawks grabbed a 3-2 lead in their half of the third, the Falcons evened the game again in the top of the fourth behind a home run from Anna Hollingsworth to lead off the inning.

Hollingsworth, Marble and Kati Walker each paced the UTPB offence with a pair of hits as the Falcons once again had more hits than their opponents (10 to 7).

UTPB is back in action in Las Vegas Saturday with games against Colorado State - Pueblo (1:30 p.m.) and Texas Woman's (4 p.m.)