TAMPA, FL (March 1, 2015)—The Sacred Heart softball team dropped two games on the final day of the USF Under Armour Invitational. After failing to maintain a lead in the continuation of Saturday's rain-delayed game against Radford, the Pioneers fell to Middle Tennessee 3-2. Senior Kate Nadler was 2-for-5 at the plate over two games with a run and an RBI. With the losses, SHU enters this week's Rebel Games 1-7.

Sacred Heart took an early lead against Radford in the rain on Saturday. The Highlanders' started Brittany Wratchford walked in the first run after issuing walks to the first four batters of the game. In the five-spot in the lineup, Justine Sibthorp came up with the bases loaded and ripped a double to centerfield for two more runs before torrential downpours put play to an end for the day.

The next morning, Abby Morrow took over in the circle for Radford with no outs and runners on second and third. She got SHU starting pitcher Adrianna Mallory to fly out to left field, but Kelyn Fillmore tagged up on third and scored the Pioneers' fourth run. Morrow got the next two batters to ground out to end the inning.

SHU threatened again in the second inning as a Nadler double sent Andrea Sidor for home, but the sophomore infielder was thrown out at the plate. After that, Sacred Heart could only put one more runner in scoring position.

After allowing just one hit in the first inning, Mallory gave up a solo home run to Becky Mantel to lead off the second inning before Mackenzie Blackwell smacked a triple to right-center. The sophomore pitcher calmed down striking out the next two batters, but a fielding error extended the inning and allowed Blackwell to score. That error came around to haunt the Pioneers again when Nia Chiles eventually crossed the plate minimizing SHU's lead to one run, 4-3.

Kacie Wentworth took over for Mallory with two outs in the bottom of the second and the bases loaded. The senior got Alex Lang to swing at a third strike getting out of the inning. Wentworth held the Highlanders scoreless through four innings before finding herself in trouble in the bottom of the seventh.

With the Pioneers needing just three outs for their second win of the season, Radford led off the inning with a single and a triple to even the score at four. Wentworth issued a pair of walks to the next batters loading the bases with no outs. Blackwell got the game-winning hit with a sac fly to rightfield scoring Whitney Davis.

Despite the Blue Raiders threatening twice in Sacred Heart's second game of the day, Jamie Carlson used eight strike outs to hold Middle Tennessee scoreless through four innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Carlson issued a walk to lead off batter Morgan Harris, who was bumped over to second by Austyn Whaley's sacrifice bunt. A SHU fielding error allowed Kiarra Freeman to reach first, and Harris to move to third, before a fielder's choice loaded the bases for Alma Cortez who popped out to Sibthorp at shortstop. With two outs, Carlie Jenkins hit the game-winning three-RBI double to leftfield.

Nadler and Fillmore drove in a run each in the top of the seventh, but it wasn't enough to catch the Blue Raiders.

Sacred Heart opens play in the 2015 Rebel Games Wednesday against Presbyterian and Saint Francis.