GULF SHORES, Ala. - Despite a promising first inning scoring five runs on three hits, the Simon Fraser University softball team opened its 2016 non-conference schedule with a 20-10 loss against the 18th-ranked University of Alabama Huntsville at the Gulf Coast Classic on Friday

Tied 10-10, Alabama Huntsville exploded for 10 runs to win the game in the sixth inning. UAH's Kaitlyn Bannister had the biggest hit of the game, belting a grand slam down the line in left to end the contest, and the third baseman finished with four hits while driving in six runs and scoring five times.

After the Clan jumped out to a 5-0 lead, the Chargers responded with four runs in the bottom half of the first with no outs, forcing Clan head coach Mike Renney to replace senior starting pitcher Jessica Goulet with junior transfer Tori Belton. Belton picked up three quick outs for Simon Fraser to end the first.

The Clan tallied two more runs in the second to go ahead 7-4 only to let UAH score four more times to go out in front 8-7 after two innings of play.

SFU tied the game at 8-8 in the top half of the third thanks to two fielding errors, but the Chargers scored a run in the bottom half, and again in the fourth, and then exploded for the 10 runs in the sixth to hand the Clan their first defeat of the season.

With the loss, SFU begins the 2016 campaign 0-1, while UAH improves to 4-2 on the season. It was the Clan's first action on the field after spending the winter training mainly indoors in a gym.

"It was a lopsided score but if you take away their last at-bats it was a 10-10 game against a ranked opponent," said Renney. "Our defence can't defend a walk and when we give up 14 free bases that puts the pressure back on the pitchers."

All four of the Clan's pitchers saw action during the contest and gave up 14 bases on balls and 14 hits.

Alia Stachoski, who entered the game in the second inning and pitched 4.1 innings, was charged with the loss. She picked up five strikeouts but gave up six runs on five hits and walked nine batters. Goulet surrendered four runs on three hits, Belton was charged with four earned runs, while freshman Jessica Tate conceded six runs in the bottom of the sixth.

"I had to pull Jessica (Goulet) in the first inning and I was expecting to get more out of her and I know I will next outing," said Renney. "Alia (Stachoski) threw once through the batting order and was fine, battled the second time through, and by the third time they were on to her."

Three Clan players earned two hits during the game. Gillis had two doubles on five plate appearances and scored two runs while Alex Baylak went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for SFU. Victoria Saunders was 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and Katherine Murnaghan led the team with two RBI. Simon Fraser had four stolen bases.

"We hit the ball well against a ranked team," said Renney, after the Clan managed 10 hits in the contest. "We also played 18 players more by design than necessity to get everyone a taste of the action."

The Gulf Coast Classic continues tomorrow as the Clan gets set to face Lindenwood University at 8 AM (PT) followed by a meeting with Union College that is scheduled to start at 10:15 AM (PT). Simon Fraser will play one more pair of games on Sunday to close out the tournament.

The team plays its first 18 games on the road, including two tournaments in Alabama and one in Oregon, before playing its first home game on February 28, a double header against rival Western Washington. Simon Fraser's GNAC schedule begins with home-and-home doubleheaders against Western Washington on Feb. 27 & 28.

Follow the SFU Clan softball team for behind the scenes pictures and more all season long on their official Instagram account.