Rochester, Minn.- The UW-Parkside softball team was unable to come all the way back from an early deficit in falling to the University of Sioux Falls, 6-3, on Friday afternoon at the RCTC Dome. It was the opener for the Cougars while the Rangers moved to 0-4 on the young season.

After a scoreless first inning Sioux Falls struck for four runs in the second; three of which were unearned. Two Rangers errors contributed to an inning that was capped off by a three-run double by Priscilla Quintana. Kellen Dewey added a home run in the third before Parkside roared back.

The Rangers answered with three, third inning runs to get right back in it. They benefitted from a couple of miscues to trim the deficit to three. Kirsten Luevano finished the inning with a big two-out hit to plate Colleen Cummings.

Unfortunately Parkside was only able to get two more baserunners the rest of the way. Sioux Falls starter Amanda Walters retired ten in a row after Luevano's hit. The Cougars tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth to make it 6-2.

The Rangers tried to rally in the seventh on back-to-back hits by Lauren Vitiello and Natalie Shank to start the inning. But Walters came back to get the next two hitters, including a double play, to end the threat.

Parkside will now set its sights on the beginning of Great Lakes Valley Conference play next weekend. The Rangers will head to Missouri for a pair of doubleheaders against Western Division foes. They'll play at Drury University on Saturday afternoon before heading to Missouri S&T on Sunday.