SHAWNEE, Okla. – SWOSU Softball outhit Oklahoma Baptist in the game and had the tying run on base in the seventh inning but fell 3-2 to the Bison on the opening night of the road conference series.

The Bulldogs final-inning rally fell just short after they had already scored one run in the inning. Despite winning the battle for hits 7-5, it was OBU's two-run home run in the fourth inning that proved to be a difference maker. It was the lone extra-base hit by either team on the night.

The home run came in response to SWOSU's first run in the top half of the fourth. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with two singles and a walk, before Taylor McMahon drove in a run with a fielder's choice.

With OBU leading 2-1, they tacked on another run in the fifth for insurance. Down to their final three outs, SWOSU made things interesting when Skyla McPhillips started the inning off with a pinch hit single. She later came around to score from a Chesnie Hewitt RBI single with two outs. The rally came to an abrupt halt when Kaylee Barkley's well-placed ball to the outfield was caught on a dive to end the game.

Barkley nearly had her third hit of the game but finished 2-4 to lead the lineup.

Alexis Taylor (L, 5-3) threw 4.0 innings of solid ball in the circle, but suffered the loss. Jaycee McKee surrendered a run in her first inning of relief, but settled in to throw a three-up, three-down sixth inning.  

The loss drops SWOSU's record to 6-8 overall and to 1-3 in league play. They'll get two more chances at Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday when the doubleheader portion of the series commences in Shawnee beginning at noon.