Oneida, Tenn. - The Lawrence Technological University Blue Devils softball team dropped a pair of games on day three of the Bear Creek Tournament. They played Rio Grande in game one before facing Milligan in the nightcap.

How It Happened: LTU 6, RIO 8 (9 Innings)

• Taylor Webb hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Caitlyn Brisker to start the scoring in the top of the first
• Jenna Myers takes Gloriana Su'a deep, bringing Shelby Schmitt and herself in, Rio takes a 3-0 lead
• Mazie Lawler doubled down the left field line to bring in Sarah Hige, cutting the deficit to two.
• Katie Courneya brings in Sarah Fife, bringing the score to 3-2 after one.
• RIO would score in the top of the second from an RBI double to right Shelby Schmitt, scoring Christen Risner, extending the lead to 4-2.
• In the top of the third, a passed ball scored Kenzie Cremeens, giving Rio Grande a 5-2 advantage
• The Blue Devils score two in their half of the fourth, with Lauren Mercado doubling in Morgan James and Lauren Fife bringing in Mercado.
• Courneya hit a moonshot to left to tie the game at five in the fifth. 
• Back-to-back homers from Myers and Zoe Doll gave the Red Storm an 8-5 lead
• Lawler singles in Hige to whittle the lead to 8-6
• Raelynn Hastings shuts the door to earn the victory in relief

By The Numbers:

• Hits: LTU 13, RIO 10
• RBI: LTU 6, RIO 8
• LOB: LTU 13, RIO 10

Su'a was on the hill for the Blue Devils, she lasted three innings giving up five runs (four earned), on five hits (one home run) and three walks, striking out two. Clover Brandt entered in relief, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, striking out three batters in six innings of work.

How It Happened: LTU 0, MU 9

• April Alvarado scored on an error by Su'a, putting the Buffs up early, 1-0
• Caitlin Mays brings in Alvardo on a sac fly in the third, doubling their lead
• The Buffs added three in the fourth, on RBI hits by Stephanie Steele, Katie Cronin, and Alvarado
• The Buffs tacked on four more in the seventh, starting with a 2-RBI double by Alexis Brown
• Hadley York brought Mays in on a sac fly
• Grace Jones singled in Brown to extend the lead to nine
• Cloee-Anna Merritt pitched a complete game shutout for the Buffs

By The Numbers:

• Hits: LTU 3, MU 11 
• RBI: LTU 0, MU 8
• LOB: LTU 3, MU 8

Grace Roeske started for LTU pitched four innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk. She struck out three and was tagged with the loss. Grace Schreiber pitched three innings of relief giving up four runs on four hits and two walks.

The Blue Devils return to action on Friday, February 25, when they take on Indiana Southeast and Brenau at 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm respectively, on the first day of the NFCA Tournament.