TUCSON, Ariz. – Hitting definitely was not the problem for the Edgewood College softball team on Monday, but stringing the hits together was. The Eagles pounded out 20 base knocks in two games, hitting .339 as a team, but left 19 runners on base as they dropped a pair of contests to Texas Lutheran and Alfred University by scores of 7-4 and 4-3, respectively.

With the sun at its hottest point in the day, the Eagles were locked in a close battle with Alfred University that came down to the last inning. With the score tied 3-3, Edgewood College began the inning with a pair of singles by Jessica Spitzer and Jackie Diesch to put the Eagles in a good position to take the lead. Despite the fast start, Alfred's Samantha Jo Mueller retired the next three Eagles to escape the jam. In the bottom half of the inning, the Saxons' Nora Passuite ripped a leadoff triple which forced Edgewood College to load the bases to allow for a force out. A pinch hitter then came in with no outs and poked a single through the right side, plating the game-winning run.

The Eagles (2-8) got off to a good start in the second game as Carlene DeCoster drew a walk and later scored on a passed ball in the first inning. Then, after a clean bottom half of the first, Edgewood College added to their lead as DeCoster singled up the middle to bring in Katie Landon. The two-run lead did not last long as Alfred (1-1) retaliated with runs in the second and third to tie the game. The Eagles then regained the lead as Alyssa Schulting belted a triple down the right field line to plate Landon but the Saxons tied the game in the fifth which was followed by the eventual walk off hit in the seventh.

In the morning contest, Texas Lutheran (10-5) jumped on starting pitcher Charlie Leikness for five runs in the first inning to chase her and bring in Karlie Klossner for relief. Despite getting in a few jams, Klossner provided a great spark off the bench for the second straight day.

Trailing 7-0, Edgewood College was finally able to rally for a couple of runs in the fourth. After two quick outs, Dylan Bahrke singled and then moved to second after Tiffani Pierce reached on an error. Schulting and Landon then hit back-to-back singles which brought in the two runs.

With the game on the line, the Eagles needed a comeback as they trailed 7-2 in the bottom of the seventh. DeCoster was able to draw a walk before the next two batters flew out. Diesch then came off the bench to slap a pinch-hit single which advanced DeCoster. Bahrke again poked a single, this time scoring a runner. Pierce followed that with a double to bring in Diesch, but Texas Lutheran ended halted the Eagles' chance at a win as Bulldogs' pitcher Elyse Hlavinka got Schulting to foul out, ending the game.

Bahrke was a star in the first game, going 4-for-4 from the plate with one run batted in. Diesch also finished the day with four hits in just six at-bats (.667). Schulting brought in two runs on three hits while DeCoster, DeJongh, Pierce, and Spitzer all connected for a pair of base knocks.

Klossner lowered her season earned run average to 2.72 as she pitched 6.2 innings only surrendering one earned run. DeJongh took the loss in the second game, but pitched a solid six innings striking out six batters.

Edgewood College will play Sul Ross State University and Central College tomorrow in search of their first win in the spring trip. Live stats will be available on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.