Rochester, Minn.- The UW-Parkside softball team saw a pair of late leads slip away in a 7-6 loss to Minot State University on Friday afternoon at the RCTC Dome. The Rangers led 5-3 and 6-5 before the Beavers rallied to win their season opener. Parkside dropped to 0-3.

Minot State jumped in front early with three first inning runs against Kelynn Sporer. Katelyn Burn capped the inning with a two-run double.

The Rangers stormed back scoring runs in fourconsecutive innings to take the lead. Lexi Sotiros singled and stole second in the third inning to get into scoring position. Kirsten Luevano knocked her in with an RBI-grounder to get on the scoreboard.

They cut the deficit to one their next time up when Sotiros drove in a run with a two-out hit. Ashley Nowdomski had singled to start the inning and moved to third on a Bridget Walters single and Cecie Portillo walk.

Parkside took the lead for itself with three runs in the fifth. They had four hits in the inning including RBI-doubles by Natalie Shank and Walters. That gave them a 5-3 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth.

Minot State tied it back up by scoring two in the inning. Two hits, a walk, and an error helped set-up the trying runs.

Colleen Cummings started a Ranger rally in the top of the sixth to reclaim the lead. She singled and stole second before coming around to score on a Diana Gordon hit.

But Minot State had th efinal answer scoring two in the bottom of the inning against Kristen Kleinmeyer in relief. A two-out triple by Jen Dixon tied the game. A Ranger error allowed Dixon to score on the next at-bat a give the Beavers the lead.

Parkside was retired 1-2-3 in the seventh to end the game.

Kleinmeyer absorbed the loss in relief allowing just one earned run. Walters led the offensive attack with a career-high three hits. Luevano and Shank each had two. The Rangers out-hit Minot State 13-8 for the game.