Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail Nevada freshman Nikki O'Bryan lays down a bunt single in the first inning of Monday's season opener against the Clinton Cardinals. [Click to enlarge]

The Nevada Lady Tigers started off the season on a positive note, knocking off the Clinton Cardinals 11-8.

Clinton started off the game looking strong with two hits in the top of the first inning. Nevada was able to keep them off the board, however, with the game's first strikeout and strong defensive play, picking off Janelle Winter as she tried to steal second.

Nevada started off the home half with a lead-off bunt single by Nikki O'Bryan, followed by two more hits that led to a 3-0 lead for Nevada heading into the second inning. Clinton answered in the second with a lead-off infield single and a stolen base, followed by an RBI double by Shona Clay to plate the only run of the inning for the Cardinals.

The Lady Tigers came back in the bottom of the frame with a lead-off walk and an error that gave them two runners with nobody out in the inning. After and infield hit loaded the bases with one out, pinch-hitter Tiffani Long was hit by a pitch to walk in another run for Nevada.

After notching two more hits in the inning, the Tigers plated a total of four runs, giving them an 7-1 lead.

Clinton started off the third with two hits and a stolen base before cutting into Nevada's lead again by plating one more run and making the score 7-2. The Tigers went down in order in the bottom of the inning, keeping the score steady.

The Cardinals went down in order in the top of the fourth, with pitcher Rachel Kennedy adding another strikeout to her total for the game. After shutting down Clinton in the top of the frame, Nevada took advantage of the Cardinals' lack of offense.

The Lady Tigers plated two more runs in the inning on three hits with one strikeout and a hit batter.

Clinton tried to rally in the top of the fifth, notching two more hits, but were unable to get on the board thanks to strong defensive play from Nevada and another strikeout by Kennedy. Nevada plated two more runs in the home half of the frame with the help of two hits -- including the second bunt single of the game for O'Bryan -- and Clinton's fourth error of the game.

Shona Clay started off the top of the sixth with a lead-off home run for Clinton, cutting into Nevada's lead once again. That would be the only run of the inning for either team, however, taking the game into the seventh with Nevada up 11-3.

Kennedy started to struggle in the seventh -- showing obvious signs of fatigue on top of getting very little help from the home plate umpire -- and allowed Clinton to rally and give the Tigers a bit of a scare. Thanks to more strong defensive play, however, Nevada was able to stop the rally at five runs, holding on to and 11-8 victory.

After the game, head coach Brandi Thomsen attributed the issues that Nevada showed in the game to a simple case of "first game jitters". "Rachel struggled a little bit, but the way she finished, I was impressed with," Thomsen said.

"We played five and a half strong innings," Thomsen added, on top of stressing that it was a good first game. The Tigers actually got out-hit in the game 15-12, but were still able to hold on and will take a 1-0 record to McDonald County this afternoon.