The University of The Bahamas Mingoes women's softball team dropped their season opener in a 19-17 nail-biter to the Black Scorpions in the New Providence Softball Association (NPSA).

Playing at the Bankers' Field at the Blue Hills Sporting Complex, the Mingoes showed some mental toughness with a 10-run third inning but not did have enough to leave the park with the win.

"I saw a lot of things – good and bad. We could not pull off the win, but we go back to how we started the game," Head coach Shane Albury stated. "We gave up 19 runs and lacked some mental toughness while not making the plays we were supposed to make which led to runs that we should not have given up."

The Mingoes finished with 13 total hits, but the defense struggled. Leading the way for the Mingoes at the plate was third baseman Syazha Kelly who went 4-for-5 to finish with three runs batted in (RBI) and two runs. She also had a double. Coming away with multiple hits were lead-off batter and shortstop turned relief pitcher, Breana Hield who went 2-for-5, and second baseman Adonya Stanislaus went 2-for-4.

It was a competitve game at the end of the third inning as both teams were tied at 15 runs apiece. The Mingoes had put together 10 runs in the bottom of that inning.

"That inning was mental toughness," Albury said. "We came back and executed some small ball with some bunts, steals and hits. It shows me that the girls had some fight which I already knew. We just need to put it all together to sustain it over the long period of the game and the season."

After the Black Scorpions went up 16-15 at the top of the fourth inning, the Mingoes needed two runs to win and end the game. The Mingoes were able to come away with one run in bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game. Third baseman Raevyn Bethel scored the run on a pass ball.

It was an empty inning in the fifth for both teams as their defense were sharp on.

The Mingoes gave up three runs at the top of the sixth inning. However, they only scored one run in the bottom of that inning as they fell short of winning their season opener.

Leading the batting for the Black Scorpions was lead-off batter Vashawnia Bastian who went 4-for-5.

The Mingoes will look to bounce back on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against the Johnson Lady Truckers.