HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Houghton softball lost twice to Nazareth in the Empire 8 opening Saturday at home. The Highlanders lost 4-0 in game one before losing a heartbreaker, 8-7. 

Kayla Loomis went the distance in game one before Jennifer Burrows got the start in game two and Alisabeth Crandall came out to close it. 

Game 1 

The Golden Flyers scored one run in the first and three runs in the second. The Highlanders held them the rest of the game but could not get their bats together in game one. The Highlanders had a total of five hits and two walks. 

Loomis pitched all seven innings, allowing 11 hits, three earned runs, and two walks. 

Game 2 

The Golden Flyers came out on fire in the second game, scoring two runs in the top of the first. The Highlanders finally got their bats going and scored five runs in the bottom of the third. The home team loaded the bases with two outs and scored their first run with a Chyanne Bushyhead walk. They capitalized to take the lead with a Carlee Miller double and Danielle Nelson single. 

The Flyers responded and tied the game up at five at the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Jennifer Page led off with a double and Lydia Peterson brought her home with a triple down the line, taking the lead 7-5. 

The Highlanders were so close to taking the win in game two after striking out the first two batters in the top of the seventh, but the Flyers did not give up. They took the lead, 8-7 with a single and a double. 

Houghton was unable to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh. The loss dropped the team to bringing them to 4-17 overall and 0-2 in the conference. 

Jennifer Burrows pitched four innings, allowing ten hits, three earned runs, no walks, and two strikeouts. Alisabeth Crandall came in to pitch the last three innings, allowing three hits, three earned runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. 

The Highlanders are back in action at Hilbert College on Tuesday, April 11 for a doubleheader at 3 and 5 p.m.