Softball drops games to Canisius, Loyola Marymount

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Canisius box score | Loyola Marymount box score

LOS ANGELES -- Northern Colorado softball ended its appearance in the 2011 Marina International Hotel Showcase on Saturday with losses to Canisius and host Loyola Marymount at Smith Field.

Canisius (9-4) and starting pitcher Caroline Main took a no-hittier into the sixth inning of a 2-0 victory in the first game Saturday. Northern Colorado's Erin Geddis broke up Main's run with a single through the left side, and Megan Hamilton (hit by pitch) and Kailee Vessey (walk) also reached base for the Bears (2-22).

Northern Colorado took a 2-1 lead in the second inning against the Lions (10-16) in the second game but couldn't make it stand up. LMU scored three in the third, one in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take control.

Freshman Megan Wilkinson plated one of the Bears' runs in the second when her single to center scored Vessey, who started the frame with a rip to right.

Kaylyn James scored Northern Colorado's other run in the second with a single to left, scoring Kelli Henderson. The Bears had a chance to break the game open in the inning, but Geddis grounded out to shortstop with the bases loaded for the third out.

Alex Neely blasted her second home run of the season in the seventh, and Hamilton picked up a sacrifice RBI to center field a few batters later, scoring James.

Henderson (2-9) started against Canisius and turned in a six-inning complete-game effort, giving her three consecutive strong starts. She struck out five and walked two, while surrending the two runs on six hits.

Jamie Juelfs (0-11) saw her frustrating spring continue against LMU when whe lasted just 2 1/3 innings while giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits.