DURANT, Okla. – The Cameron softball team kicked off their spring by splitting their first two games at the Southeastern Regional Invitational on Friday. CU outlasted St. Mary's in the first game of the day 4-3, but fell just a few hours later to Pittsburg State, 7-4.

In game one, the Aggies did all their damage in the second innings. Brenna Busby started it off by doubling in Abby Warren for CU's first run of the game. One batter later, Nikki Horton drove in both B. Busby and Bethany Hines, before she came around to score herself in the next at bat.

The Rattlers started chipping away at the CU lead in the top of the fourth, as a sacrifice fly drove in their first run of the ball game. They were able to get another run in the sixth inning as Rayelle Nash scored on an Aggie error. Their final run of the game came on a two out, solo homer in the top of the seventh that looked like it would start a rally for STMU, but Hines was able to strike out Nash to end the game.

Hines earned her first career win in game one, throwing all seven innings, while giving up three earned runs, 11 hits, walking four batters, and striking out five.

In the second game, CU started off the scoring in the top of the first, as Breezy McComas drove in Paige Daino, who doubled in the previous at bat.The Gorillas got on the board in the bottom of the second, striking for three runs on four hits and a walk to take the early lead.

Cameron scored again in the third inning, as Callie Busby lead off with a single and then came around to score on a triple by Kaylyn Smith. Smith scored on a double from McComas to tie the game at three runs apiece.

After Pitt State took back the lead with a run in the fourth, the Aggies came back tied it back up at four thanks to three straight walks in the fifth capped off by an RBI single from Annie Combs.The Gorillas responded and opened up a 7-4 lead thanks to three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

CU tried to make their final comeback in the top of the seventh, as Smith came around to score after reaching on an error to lead off the inning, but a strikeout from Warren would end the game. 

Alyssa Osterdock pitched the first 3.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on nine hits, but Hines got the loss, pitching the final 2.2 innings, giving up three earned runs as well on seven hits.

B. Busby went 4-6 on the day with one RBI and two runs scored, while McComas and Horton each drove in two runs and K. Smith scored three times.

The Aggies will be back at it tomorrow as they compete in day two of the invitational, taking on St. Edward's at 9:30 a.m. and then Texas A&M-International at 5 p.m. The link to the live videos of the remaining games of the tournament will be available on cameronaggies.com.