The Ursuline College softball team opened the 2017 season with two tough losses at the Falcon Frenzy hosted by Montevallo University in Alabama on Friday.
 
The Arrows fell to the University of Western Alabama 5-3 in the first game and also fell to the number one ranked and defending Division II National Champion North Alabama by the same score in game two.
 
In game one, Western Alabama took an early lead in the top of the first inning an RBI single by Sarah Beth King to make it 1-0.
 
The Tigers tacked on a pair of runs in the second inning to make it 3-0 before adding a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
The Ursuline bats awoke in the bottom of the fifth inning after senior Mackenzie Lebeda singled to start the inning followed by a base hit from senior Kaitlin Krajcik. Freshman Ellise Presutto added the third hit of the inning to load the bases. Junior transfer Rosie Lyard drove in a pair of runs with the Arrows fourth hit of the inning to make it 5-2. Senior Brittany Humbel drove in the third run of the inning with a base hit to left to make it 5-3.
 
Junior Gina Rosshirt started the game and took the loss allowing three runs on two hits over 1 1/3 innings of work. Freshman Brooklyn Miller worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and picking up her first two career strikeouts. Humbel worked 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief allowing one hit and striking out four.
 
In game two, North Alabama started the bottom of the first inning with a lead-off home run to take an early 1-0 lead. The Lions tacked on a single run in the second and three more in the third to take a 5-0 lead.
 
The Arrows got on the board in the fourth inning after Humbel picked up a one out double to left field after sophomore Sadie Jones was hit by a pitch. Senior Brigitte Snow picked up her first RBI of the season with a base hit back up the middle to score Jones and make it 5-1. Junior Leah Leshnack drove in a run on with a base hit and an error by the shortstop allowed a second run to score to make it 5-3.
 
Trailing 5-3, in the top of the seventh inning, Snow reached base after striking out on a passed ball. Lebeda followed with a base hit to put the tying runs on base with no outs. A ground out from Leshnack moved both runners into scoring position but the next two batters were retired by Bodenhorn who picked up the save.
 
Rosshirt started game two and allowed two runs on five hits over 1 2/3 inning of work. Humbel worked the final 4 1/3 innings allowing three runs on four hits while walking four and striking out four.
 
The Arrows will play two more games on Saturday afternoon starting with Delta State at 3:45 PM CST. In game two, Ursuline will play Shorter University (GA.) at 6:00 PM.