BRANSON, Mo. – The Truman Softball team couldn't find the big hit and dropped a pair of games on Saturday, falling to Missouri Southern 8-0 and Nebraska-Kearney 3-1. The Bulldogs will open conference play next Friday at home against the University of Illinois Springfield.

The Lions jumped on the Bulldogs for three runs in the bottom of the first and added three more, including two home runs, in the second to race out to a 6-0 lead.

They scored on a sac fly in the fourth and ended the game with a fielder's choice bunt that plated the eighth run.

The Bulldogs mustered just two hits.

In the second game, Nebraska-Kearney scored three runs on a two-out triple in the top of the second. The first two batters were retired quickly, but a walk, a single, and another walk loaded the bases for the three-bagger.

The Bulldogs missed several scoring chances. In the fourth, Cassie Smith tripled but was erased trying to steal home. One batter later, Emily Wood tripled but was stranded.

In the fifth, Madi McCarty was caught stealing just before another triple off the bat of Maddie Hickman. She was left at third following a groundout.
 
In the sixth, the Bulldogs finally broke through as Michaela Goad picked up an RBI with a single to left, scoring Lily Arndt with one out. Wood followed with a double to put runners on second and third, but the next two Bulldogs were retired.


Of the Bulldogs' six hits, five went for extra bases.