ARLINGTON, Texas - The long ball was prevalent in the opener of the UTA Invitational as UMKC defeated Nicholls, 8-4 to begin the four-team tournament at Allan Saxe Field on Friday.

The teams combined for five home runs on a windy day with the blowing out to straightaway center field. Nicholls struck first with a pair of runs in the first before UMKC (4-6) knocked in seven unanswered to lead in the fifth. A two-run shot by Nicholls brought the game back within three runs in the bottom half of the inning, but it was short lived with another home run, this time to left to regain the four-run UMKC lead.

UMKC's Morgan Byrn finished with a 3-for-4 outing with two runs and three runs knocked in, two coming on her second homer of the season. Samantha Mrachich, Jessica Taylor and Sydney Bourg finished with two base knocks for Nicholls who went to 11-3 overall.