GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- April 29, 2016 -- Third-seed Chadron State College softball walked seven batters on Friday afternoon in Grand Junction, with three of those becoming runs for second-seeded Metropolitan State University of Denver. The Eagles came up short in an intense and emotional ending, getting upended 7-6 in eight innings.

MSU Denver struck first in the bottom of the third inning, with a bases-loaded wild pitch bringing in the go-ahead run.

Starting pitcher Tayler Hall had given up only two hits through five innings, versus four for CSC, when the sixth inning began.

Chadron State tied it up in the sixth, with Rebekah Anthony reaching first safely, and later after pinch-runner Kendyl Moody had advanced to second on a passed ball, she scored on Katelyn Kruger's third double in two games.

In that same frame, Kayla Michel hit a two-run homer over right field, which appeared to break the game open for the Eagles.

CSC gave up four hits and two walks in the bottom of the inning, before Cierra Cosslett entered the game in relief at 6-3 Roadrunners and shut down the rally.

The Eagles got the runs back in the seventh. Two outs from what would have been the end of the game, Courtney Lecher slapped an RBI single, scoring Shea Graham who went 2-for-3 in the game with one walk. Then Zoe Humphries put across the tying run with a two-run double to knot it at six apiece.

The Eagles got through the end of regulation unscathed, and got two on base in the top of the eighth before the Roadrunners escaped with no change in the score.

The bottom of the eighth inning brought up the top of the order for the Roadrunners. MSU Denver's Colissa Bakovich tripled and Cassidy Smith singled her home to walk off 7-6.

The Eagles will continue in the double-elimination tournament this evening with a 6:25 p.m. game against Regis.