LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs Softball team opened the 2015 season at home with a sweep of the Windsor Lancers, Brock Badgers and McMaster Marauders, respectively, outscoring their opponents 54-6 to come away with six big wins.

The Mustangs were anxious to get started having had all four games rained out in Ottawa last weekend and showed it by jumping out to an early lead on the Lancers. The first game was decided quickly as Western scored five runs in the first three innings, which lead to their 8-0 victory.

A two-run single by Tara Cress, a passed ball during the first inning, and an RBI single by Courtney Reynolds in the second inning fueled the Mustangs offense early. Jayme Wells picked up three RBIs for the Mustangs with a triple in the fifth inning. Amber Smolenaars held Windsor hitless over two innings of relief, allowing no runs, walking one, and striking out three. Ace Rachael Jacques started and picked up the win for Western. She pitched three shutout innings striking out four, walking one, and allowing just one hit.
 
In the Mustangs second game of the double header, an eight-run explosion in the fifth inning propelled Western to an 11-1 win in a second run rule victory over the Lancers. The Mustangs scored one in the first, one in the third, and one in the fourth before the fifth inning explosion.

The eight runs came on an RBI single by Kristin Roy, a two-run single by Lauren Sovereign, an RBI single by Courtney Reynolds, a fielder's choice, a groundout by Alex Crane, and a two-run home run by Melanie Smith. Smith racked up three RBIs on two hits for the Mustangs. Mustang pitcher, Jaymie Mailloux had three strikeouts in the five inning run rule shutout win. Windsor recorded only four hits and one walk in the game.
 
On Saturday, Western took on the Brock Badgers. The games were delayed about an hour due to rain but the gloomy weather could not deter Mustang pitcher, Rachael Jacques who turned in a quality effort producing a 3-1 complete game victory. Jacques recorded 14 strikeouts and allowed just one earned run on two hits and a walk.

Leadoff hitter, Michelle Reynolds paced the Mustangs going 2-3 with a run scored. She singled in the fourth and sixth innings. The Mustangs never trailed after scoring one run in the first on an RBI single by Smith. In the second, Mustangs Riley Cunningham scored on an error and, in the sixth, Courtney Reynolds doubled plating Michelle Reynolds.
 
In game two on Saturday, Western continued their streak with a 9-2 victory. Courtney Reynolds racked up three RBIs on three hits for Western. She singled in the first and second innings, and tripled in the sixth inning. Mustang pitcher, Sara Contini got the win, recording seven strikeouts and allowing just one earned run on seven hits and one walk over seven innings.
 
Western took the lead in the second, scoring four runs on an error and a two-run single by Courtney Reynolds. The Mustangs scored two more in the fifth inning, and then followed it up with two more in the sixth. In the fifth, Western scored on a three-run home run by Smith, bringing home Michelle Reynolds and Shannon Davidson. In the sixth, Courtney Reynolds tripled, once again scoring Michelle Reynolds to start the inning. That was followed up by a Davidson's single, scoring Courtney Reynolds.

On Sunday the Mustangs took on McMaster. In game one, Western jumped out to an early lead and captured a 13-0 run rule victory.

The game was decided quickly as the Mustangs scored 12 runs in the first three innings. A sacrifice fly by Robyn Wood, a steal of home by Cunningham, a two-run double by Amber Smolenaars, an RBI double by Claire Linton during the first inning, and a two-run single by Smith in the second inning supplied the early offense for Western. Cunningham was hot at the plate going 2-3, driving in a run, and scoring three times. She tripled in the first inning and singled in the third inning.

McMaster managed just one hit off of Mustang ace Jacques, who allowed no runs, walked one and struck out five during her three innings of work. Jaymie Mailloux pitched two innings of relief allowing just one hit and striking out four. The Mustangs piled on five more runs in the bottom of the third. Wood doubled, scoring Michelle Reynolds and Linton to start the inning. That was followed up by Cunningham's single, bringing home Courtney Reynolds.

The Mustangs once again defeated McMaster in their second game on Sunday and final match of the weekend 10-2 in six innings. Western scored four runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Davidson, a two-run double by Kristin Roy, and an RBI double by Linton. Courtney Reynolds reached base three times. She singled in the first and sixth innings.
 
Sara Contini put together a nice outing allowing just one hit and no earned runs, walked none, and struck out two during her two innings of work. Amber Smolenaars recorded the win for Western, allowing two runs over four innings, struck out two, walked none, and gave up four hits.

The six wins extend the four time defending National Champion Mustangs winning streak to 56 games dating back to the 2013 season. Next action for the Mustangs is Friday, September 25 in Waterloo at Laurier, followed by Saturday, September 26 at Toronto, and Sunday, September 27 at Guelph. All dates are doubleheaders.