Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Rockhurst softball team opened its 2015 season with two one-run losses at the Arkansas-Monticello 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. on Friday.

Southwest Baptist rallied to edge the Hawks 9-8 in nine innings in the first game of the day. Illinois Springfield also came from behind to post a 6-5 victory over the Hawks.

In the first game, Rockhurst scored three runs in the first inning, one more in the second and added four runs in the third to take an 8-0 lead. Freshman Caroline Lipp hit a two-run home run in her first collegiate at-bat in the top of the first inning.

Southwest Baptist plated six runs in the sixth inning to tie the score at 8-8. The Bearcats scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth off freshman reliever Madison Wagner.

Lipp added a three-run home run to tie Illinois Springfield, 3-3, in the third. Lauren Cairo hit an RBI double in the fourth and an RBI single by Gabbie Boerema in the sixth gave Rockhurst a 5-3 lead.

Demi Plathe pitched the first innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Springfield scored three unearned runs in the sixth, aided by three walks and two errors. The winning run scored on a wild pitch by Bridgette Sappington.

Boerema led the Hawks with five hits and four RBI in two games. Lipp was 4-for-9 with five RBI.

Rockhurst continues play on Saturday against Missouri Southern at 11 a.m. and Southern Nazarene in the afternoon.