MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Houghton softball continues to make strides offensively in its opening week, but the team just missed out on two wins on Wednesday at the USSSA Space Coast Games in Florida.

The Highlanders lost a 5-4 decision to Rose Hulman in the opener and came up short in a thrilling eight-inning 11-7 loss to Rivier.

Pitcher Olivia Carr had a strong performance vs. Rose Hulman, going the distance and allowing just five runs on 11 hits. Carr also helped her cause with two hits. Kelley Burnett also got two hits, including a double, and scored twice. Sarah McArthur tripled and drove in a run.

Rose Hulman scored twice in the first to gain a 2-0 lead, before the Highlanders evened the score in the second off an error that scored a run and McArthur's RBI triple that drove in Burnett. After Rose Hulman pulled ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the second, Houghton again tied the score in the fifth. However, the Fighting Engineers scored twice in the sixth to regain the lead for good. The Highlanders did not go down without a fight in the seventh. Houghton put runners into scoring position with a lead-off single, a sac bunt and another single. Burnett scored from third on a double steal, but Nelson was thrown out at second. Kareena Ulfig struck out the end the game.

"Olivia was dominant on the mound. Rose-Hulman is one of the toughest teams we face this week and Olivia kept us in this game," said Head Coach Olivia Kincanon. "Our bats were on fire; we had their pitcher timed up and we came through offensively when it was needed. Kelley has been huge in the leadoff spot. She's getting on and allowing our #2 and #3 hitters to knock her in early and get us on the board right from the start. And our defense looked the best I've ever seen it. We were shutting them down offensively which was a big reason we held on so well throughout the game."

The second game of the day saw each team put on an offensive flurry, with most of the runs coming in the final two innings. Rivier jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first before Houghton regained the lead with two scores in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a Nelson triple that scored McArthur and a ground out by Ulfig that plated Nelson. After Rivier tied the game at two, Houghton pulled head 4-2 in the bottom of the third, with Nelson and McArthur scoring.

With the score still 4-2 in favor of the Highlanders heading into the seventh inning, the Raiders got their bats going. They scored twice in the inning to tie the score at four and then added seven more in the eighth to go up 11-4. Again, Houghton tried for some late-game heroics, plating three runs in the bottom of the eighth, but it wasn't enough. 

Houghton finished with nine hits by seven different batters, led by Abigail Pitts and Olivia Carr, who each finished 2 for 4. Carr and Danielle Nelson each finished with two RBI, while Nelson and Sarah McArthur each scored two runs.

Ulfig went 7.1 innings, allowing even runs (4 earned) on 10 hits, while striking out four. Pitts pitched a third of an inning, allowing four runs on three hits. Rebecca Oates allowing one hit in a third of an inning pitched.

"Kareena used the momentum from game 1 and translated that into game 2. She caused Rivier to struggle throughout the game offensively and allowed us to stay on top throughout most of the game," said Kincanon. "Some defensive mishaps allowed Rivier to sneak their way back into the game, but we see those mistakes and we continue to learn and grow from them. This is week 1 of the season and I would much rather make these mistakes now than in conference play. Overall, much improved than the beginning of the week, but we are now setting the bar higher and expecting wins."