KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons softball team dropped their first two games of the Rebel Spring games against tough competition, against the New Haven Chargers (Ct.) and the Shepherd Rams (W.V.).

GAME ONE V. NEW HAVEN
The Dragons went up 1-0 after the top of the first inning as lead-off batter Katie Howland reached base after being hit b a pitch. She was moved on a sacrifice bunt by Desi DeMarco and to third on an Ariel Adelsen single down the left line. Howland would score in the following at-bat where AJ Hoefer earned an RBI on a sacrifice fly to the right side.

MSUM increased their slim lead to two in the top of the second as Molly Keeler would score on a DeMarco single into left field. Keeler reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a passed ball.

The Chargers tied the game in the bottom of the third inning as two lead-off singles turned into trouble for the Dragons. Brianne Gleason singled to left to knock in both runs to tie the game.

New Haven would take the lead in the fifth as Gleason would score on a x Minervi single into centerfield. They increased their lead to three in the sixth inning , as a bases loaded balk produced the first run and a single by Trinicelli would make the score 5-2.

The Dragons challenged the lead as they went into the top of the seventh with the bases loaded with one out. Casey Preston drew a walk in the next at bat and Lauren Jansson was hit by a pitch to put the Dragons within one. MSUM could not come up with enough momentum to take the game as the Chargers won 5-4.

Mara Litzer suffered the loss for the Dragons, pitching five complete innings allowing three runs on five hits and had two strikeouts. Alexa D'Onofrio pitched one inning and gave up two runs on one hit.

DeMarco and Adelsen each went 2-for-3 in the game. DeMarco had one RBI and also scored a run.

GAME TWO V. SHEPHERD
The Dragons started game two off the same way as game one as they took an early 1-0 lead, with the run coming in the third inning.

Howland led off the bottom of the third with a triple over the centerfielders' head and scored the Dragons only run in the game on a single by Adelsen.

The Rams were too much for the Dragons as they scored six runs off of 12 hits to take the game. The Dragons had four hits and one error.

D'Onofrio suffered her second loss of the season as she pitched a complete game with one strikeout. Howland went 2-for-4 in the game.

The Dragons will play Dowling and New York Institute of Technology on Monday at 3 and 5 p.m., respectively. Livestats should be available for both games pending on power supplies at the fields.