Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (Evansville, Ind.) – The Missouri S&T Lady Miners softball team dropped a pair of tough one run decisions in a doubleheader at Southern Indiana 8-7 and 5-4 on Saturday afternoon in Evansville, Ind. It was the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for both squads.

In the opener the Lady Miners (2-4, 0-2 GLVC) nearly rallied from a six run deficit in its final bat for the second time in a week but unfortunately came up a run short. The Screaming Eagles (2-6, 2-0 GLVC) struck first in the opening frame when Brittany DeWeese lined a two run single back up the middle.

S&T tied the game in the third on an RBI single by Maggie Schroeder and a RBI double off the bat of Kate Runyan. Coley Naughton had the chance to give the Lady Miners the lead but flew out to right ending the frame.

S&T had another opportunity to take the lead in the fourth but again stranded a pair of runners on a groundout to third to end the inning.

Southern Indiana broke the tie in the sixth inning erupting for six runs with the big blow being a three-run homer to right field off the bat of Amanda Brendel that made it 8-2.

The Lady Miners refused to go quietly in the seventh getting back-to-back singles from Krista Porterfield and Jamie Hatlan to start the inning. After a fly out to left, Kristen Drage drilled a three-run homer to right field to cut the deficit in half. Runyan then started the rally up again drawing a four pitch walk. Naughton then singled back up the middle bringing the tying run to the plate. A passed ball put runners at second and third, and then Becky Davis drew a walk. On that play the ball got away from the catcher allowing Runyan to score, Lindsey DeForest, who pinch ran for Naughton, went to third and Davis advanced to second.

Ashley Wallingford then hit a sacrifice fly to short right bringing DeForest home from third to make it 8-7. Kaylea Smith nearly tied the game with a long fly ball but the centerfielder tracked it down for the final out.

Offensively, the Lady Miners pounded out 12 hits led by Drage with three. Schroeder, Kassi Deibert and Porterfield had two hits apiece.

Wallingford took the loss allowing eight runs, all earned, on 10 hits while walking three and striking out two in six innings of work to fall to 1-2.

In the nightcap S&T jumped on top first scoring a pair of runs in the second inning. Runyan got it going with a single up the middle. Naughton then doubled down the left field line putting runners at second and third. Davis brought them both home with a double to right center.

Taylor Keal breezed through the first three innings facing one batter over the minimum before running into trouble in the fourth. She retired the first two hitters she faced before giving up a home run to Sara Loete to make it 2-1. DeWeese doubled to right then scored when the next hitter singled up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.

The Lady Miners rebounded with a run in the fifth on a RBI single by Drage that scored Lauren Briggs from third. They added to their lead in the sixth on a ground out to short that scored Davis.

This time it was the Screaming Eagles turn to refuse to go away as they scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie it back up at 4 all. S&T had a chance to get out of the inning but an error with two outs allowed the tying run to cross the plate.

The Lady Miners threatened but didn't score in the seventh, then USI put two on with two out in the bottom of the frame and DeWeese hit a ball to shallow right center that hit just off of Runyan's glove which allowed the winning run to score.

S&T's offense rapped out nine hits in game two led by Runyan, Davis and Deibert with two apiece.

Keal suffered her first loss of the season allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits while walking three and striking out three in 6.2 innings of work.

The Lady Miners return to the diamond on Sunday afternoon taking on Kentucky Wesleyan in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m., from Owensboro, Ky.