DAVENPORT, Iowa - The Ashford University softball team fell victim to superb pitching and a late-inning rally in game two by St. Ambrose University on Wednesday afternoon, losing two conference games to the Queen Bees, 9-0, in a shortened game one and 4-3 in the finale.

After the Saints (7-13, 2-6 MCC) went scoreless in the top of the first inning of game one, the Queen Bees (7-9, 4-3 MCC) went to work.

After St. Ambrose leadoff hitter Melissa Krueger walked, the next batter, Jenna Howard, singled and an error by the leftfielder allowed Krueger to score and Howard to advance to second. A Kirstin Kramer double brought home Howard to bring the score to 2-0 in favor of St. Ambrose.

When Stacey Crosby singled and scored Kramer, the Bees took a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

The second inning went quiet for both teams before the Bees' bats woke up again the bottom of the third inning.

Jessica Murphy tripled to start the inning and made her way to home plate on fielder's choice by Crosby. Later in the inning, Krueger recorded a three-run triple and would score on a double by Howard to make the score 8-0 with three innings in the books.

Caitlin Polzin worked three innings for the Bees, striking out three while not allowing a hit.

While pinch hitting for senior Jessie Rosenow of Erie, Ill., sophomore Ashley Schuerr of Belvidere, Ill., singled for the first hit of the game for the Saints in the top of the fourth inning. After junior Kendra Roth of Salem, S.D., walked and sophomore Cara Harmon of Westfield, Ind., singled, the Saints loaded the bases before sophomore Nichole Schroeder of Wheeling, Ill., lined out to third to end the inning.

Senior Nichole Salazar of Minooka, Ill., doubled in the bottom the fifth, but it was too little, too late as the Saints were unable to overcome the run-rule and the game was ended after five innings with a score of 9-0 in favor of the Bees.

In game two, the Saints took a 1-0 lead early after Roth singled to bring home sophomore Janelle Schroeder of Wheeling, Ill., in the top of the first.

Sophomore Nicole Woodward of Carbon Cliff, Ill., worked her way out a jam in the bottom of the first, keeping two Bees base runners from scoring to keep the Saints lead in tact.

After three consecutive scoreless innings by both teams, the Saints added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning.

After J. Schroeder singled and stole second, Roth knocked her in on an RBI double. The next batter, Woodard, doubled as well to score Roth and increase the Saints lead to 3-0.

The Bees came right back in the bottom of the fifth and cut the lead to one after a Krueger singled scored Morgan Dossett and Genevieve Berent to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Saints heading into the sixth inning.

When the Saints were unable to extend their lead in the top of the sixth, St. Ambrose took advantage.

With the bases loaded, Crosby singled to score Polzin and tie the contest at 3-3. With the bases still loaded, a passed ball allowed Kramer to come home and put St. Ambrose out front, 4-3.

Schuerr doubled in the top of the seventh for the Saints, and after Roth walked the Saints had runners on the corners with two outs. Senior Whitney Bauer of DeWitt, Iowa, who pinch ran for Schuerr in the inning, would be stranded on third when the game was over after Woodard flied out to left field to end the contest.