The No. 19-ranked Angelo State softball team (2-0) opened the 2010 season with two key wins Friday at the St. Mary's Invitational in San Antonio.

The Rambelles would explode for a nine-run sixth inning to grab a 10-2 run-rule victory over Texas A&M International in their season opener. ASU then held off Midwestern State, 5-2, late into the evening to close out the first day of play at the event.

Last season, the Rambelles set a school and Lone Star Conference record with 91 home runs, but it would be seven singles and nine walks to come from behind to down TAMIU. Trailing 2-1 entering the sixth inning, ASU got five of its seven hits and drew five walks before registering the third out to complete the run-rule shortened victory. Freshman Allyson Seider, who entered earlier in the sixth inning to run for junior Kaycee Taylor, would draw a bases-loaded walk, scoring senior Nicole Smith, to end the game.

Senior right-hander April Haywood (1-0) limited the Dustdevils to four hits while giving up two earned runs. Haywood fanned six TAMIU hitters while issuing just one walk. Freshman Kacie Easley led the Rambelles offensively going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.

In the late game, it was a brilliant pitching performance by senior right-hander Chelsea Nelson (1-0) that lifted the Rambelles to their second win of the day. Nelson limited the Mustangs, the preseason favorite to win the LSC's North Division, to just two hits and two unearned runs while fanning seven MSU batters. Nelson would retire the final the final 12 hitters she faced after her teammates gave her all the offense she would need early in the game.

Senior Megan Pumphrey would score ASU's first run of the game in the top of the opening frame as she scored from second on a Mustang error. The Rambelles would add three runs in the third inning thanks to an RBI single by Taylor and two-run double by Haywood. ASU would tack on an RBI double by Easley in the fifth to secure the win. Easley would go 2-for-4 with an RBI against the Mustangs to lead there Rambelles with two hits each.

The Rambelles continue play in the invitational Saturday with two games against regional foes. At 11 a.m., ASU will meet up with Southeastern Oklahoma in a rematch of last season's NCAA Division II South Central Super Regional. Then at 3 p.m., the Rambelles face St. Edward's in battle of the last two regional champions. ASU closes out the event Sunday at 12 p.m. against Incarnate Word.