TUCSON, Ariz. – The Edgewood College softball team has been getting closer and closer to their first win of the Tucson Invitational but despite their hard work, the Eagles fell in two more games on Tuesday. The Eagles led early but fell 10-9 against Sul Ross State University before dropping a 4-0 decision to tenth ranked Central College.

The Eagles could not have asked for a better start as they knocked in three runs on three hits in the first inning. With two runners on, Jackie Diesch singled home Carlene DeCoster which was followed by a single by Dylan Bahrke. Katie Landon then took her cuts, bringing home two runs with a single to left center. Sul Ross State (5-6) got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning, but Edgewood College tacked on another run in the second and two more in the third.

With the score 6-3, the Eagles (2-10) came to bat in what proved to be an eventful fourth inning. Jessica Spitzer and Diesch led off with back-to-back singles which was followed by yet another Landon RBI single.  Alyssa Schulting then brought in a run with a deep sacrifice fly to center and Landon crossed the plate on a throwing error by the shortstop. Edgewood College held a comfortable 9-3 lead, but the Lobos rallied in the bottom half. Sul Ross State led their part of the fourth off with two hits and advanced the runners on sloppy defense. The Lobos' Samantha Menchaca then drove in two with a single which chased starting pitcher Karlie Klossner. Charlie Leikness came in and loaded the bases which led to three more runs for Sul Ross State.

Clinging onto a 9-8 lead, the Lobos connected for three hits and two runs in the fifth to take the lead. The Eagles began the sixth with two hits, but could not drive the runs in and also came up short in the seventh after a lead off hit to fall by a run.

Despite a 4-0 score in the second game, the Eagles played some of their best fundamental softball in the entire trip. Edgewood College and Central were locked at zeros through two and a half innings before the Dutch rallied for a few runs in the third. With the bases loaded, a sharply hit grounder was hit to the infield. Spitzer tried to get the runner at home, but was just a bit late and everyone was safe. The next batter ripped a two-run single which was followed by another RBI single to right center. Leikness then came into pitch for the Eagles and helped Edgewood College escape the jam.

Leikness had her best outing of the spring trip as she held Central without a hit over the last 3.2 innings. The junior pitcher also has her defense to thank for making a few terrific plays. In the Dutch's fourth inning, one of the quickest players slapped down a bunt but Bahrke showed great reflex behind the plate as she jumped on the loose ball and gunned her down by a step. In the fifth, Landon made a great stop at third base to throw out a runner in a narrow play to force two players left on base for Central. Then in the sixth, the infield played in tight anticipating a slap bunt and Spitzer charged hard and made a great scoop and throw, beating the runner.

Down 4-0, the Eagles were down to their last chance in the seventh. A leadoff single by Schulting sparked hope and then was moved over by a Tiffani Pierce single, but the next two batters were retired to halt the rally.

Landon led the charge in the first game, going 4-for-4 from the plate while Spitzer also knocked out four hits on the day.

Edgewood College will again play a pair of games on Wednesday. The Eagles face Baldwin Wallace for the second time in the trip before battling Southwestern University at 1:30 pm PT. Live stats will be available on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.