Joplin, Mo.- The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team lost its NCAA Tournament Central Regional opener against Missouri Southern State on Thursday, dropping a tight defensive contest by a final score of 3-2. 

The defining pace of the game was set early, as both teams were blanked throughout the first two innings. UMD landed its lead-off hitter on in both frames but wasn't able to generate more offense past that. The Lions, meanwhile, suffered back-to-back 1-2-3 outings at the hands of Lauren Dixon. In the top of the third, UMD's bats broke through. With the Bulldogs down to their last out, Kendal Jenkins connected for a single that sent Kiana Bender home from second to make it 1-0 UMD. 

But MSSU would dial up a response in the bottom of the frame. A two-out UMD error was enough to send a Lion home to even the score at 1 run apiece. MSSU then came for the lead in the fourth, a solo home run from Emily Perry leaving the score at 2-1 Lions.

It turned out that the Bulldogs had some power swinging of their own in their arsenal, though. In the top of the fifth, Bender would laser a solo shot out to right center to answer MSSU and tie the game back up at 2. There the score would stay for some time, as both defenses continued their solid performances. But the Lions would start to threaten offensively once again in the bottom of the seventh, landing two runners on base with no outs. UMD would rally to record two-straight outs to put the game on the brink of extra innings, but an error was enough to send the winning run home for the Lions and end this one 3-2.

Bender was a standout at the plate for UMD in this one, going a perfect 3-3 with two runs and an RBI. At the mound, Dixon still had a stout statline, working 6.2 innings while allowing only one earned run on five hits. Perry was big for MSSU's offense, finishing 2-3 with a run and an RBI. It was a by-committee effort by the Lions at the plate. Avery Tallman went the first 2.2 innings, allowing four hits and a run. Kara Amos then tossed 2.2 scoreless, hitless frames. Bailey Lacy closed things out the rest of the way, allowing a run and two hits in 1.2 innings.

The Bulldogs stay alive in the tourney but move to the elimination portion of their Central Regional pod. UMD will play the loser of Thursday's Rogers State/Southern Arkansas matchup on Friday, May 12 at 5:00 p.m. CT. That game will take place at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex in Joplin, Mo.