BETHANY, Okla. – SWOSU softball opened their Great American Conference series against Southern Nazarene on Thursday with an 8-5 loss.
 
The Dawgs move to 12-19 and 8-10 in GAC play. They continue the series in Bethany tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 2 pm.
 
Offense was no issue for either team, but SWOSU couldn't keep up in the field. Six errors, including four in the fifth, from the Bulldog defense led to the three-run loss.
 
SWOSU took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth inning on a base loaded walk. Only that run managed to cross the plate, leaving three left on. The defense began to unravel after that. A double got the leadoff hitter on which led to SWOSU committing errors on four straight plays and gave up one more hit in the frame to put SNU on top at the final score of 8-5.
 
Southern Nazarene struck first with two runs in the first for a 2-0 advantage, followed by three runs from SWOSU courtesy of a home run from Chesnie Hewitt. The two traded single runs until the explosion in the fifth inning from SNU.
 
SWOSU gave themselves a chance in the top of the seventh inning. They had runners on the corners with no outs, but didn't capitalize and ended the game in a double play.
 
Chesnie Hewitt hit the only home run of the game, batting 1-2 with three RBIs. Dani Carmo was 2-2 with an RBI and a walk. Maddie Rahon finished 2-3 and scored two runs.