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PHOENIX -- Midwestern State's offense got untracked early and often in an 8-2 season opening win over Grand Canyon (Ariz.) Friday afternoon in the GCU Invitational at Stapleton-Pierson Stadium.
 
Elena Bennett, Kelley Schaefer, Shelby Carter and Carey Campbell legged out two hits each as the Mustangs churned out 12 hits as a team to take out the Antelopes, who were receiving votes in the NFCA Preseason Poll.
 
Freshman Laci Belovsky allowed two runs on eight hits permitting single runs in the fourth and seventh innings to claim a win in her first collegiate start in the circle.
 
The Mustangs drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning as junior catcher Kim Jerrick laced a leadoff single down the left-field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bennett. GCU starter Kailey Regester, who took the loss to fall to 0-1, uncorked a pair of wild pitches allowing Jerrick to plate the first run of the season.
 
Midwestern chased Regester out of the game with a three-run third highlighted by Carter's two-run double to center field to give the Mustangs a 4-0 edge.
 
The Antelopes converted Kelsey Barak's leadoff double into a run in the top of the fourth, but Midwestern answered with three more tallies in the bottom of the inning keyed by senior Courtney Bingham's two-run triple to the right-field gap.
 
Campbell pushed the Mustangs' edge to 8-1 with RBI single down the left-field line to plate Haley Howerton in the fifth inning.
 
Grand Canyon's Kiki Sepulveda closed out scoring with a solo home run to center field in the top of the seventh.
 
Midwestern State continues the six-game, three-day invitational later this afternoon against Western New Mexico. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.