COLTON - The Bull­dogs softball team suffered its first losses of the season, going down 10-7 in the first and 3-7 in the second of its spring break doubleheader against Colton Tuesday.

"They (Colton Wildcats) got their big opportunity hits when they needed them and we didn't," assistant coach Des Jones said on the way home to Dayton.

In the first game, the Lady Dogs out hit the Wildcats 12-8, but couldn't capitalize as well on its superior bat­ting average. Dayton went into the bottom of the third down 2-1. Colton strung together a 6-run inning and the Bulldogs, who struggled back with some impressive hitting, weren't able to catch up on their opponents' lead.

"The girls never gave up," Jones said. "They hit the ball really well."

The Lady Dogs kept chipping away at the Wild­cats' margin with 2 runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and 1 in the sixth, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. Colton scored single runs in the fourth and the fifth to stay ahead of their non-league rivals.

Jessica Tate was 4 for 4 in the first game, while pitcher Sam Harting hit 3 out of 4, Jones said. Harting also scored a home run in the fourth.

The first loss may have taken the wind out of the Lady Dogs' sails, though Jones still thought they would give Colton a run for its money in the second game.

"I'm not sure what hap­pened," she said. "I thought they would get right back in it, but they weren't able to string together the hits they needed."

Both teams scored in the first inning. The Wildcats put 3 on the board and the Bull­dogs posted 2, but Colton connected more successfully after that, putting up 2 more runs in the second, 1 in the fourth and 1 in the fifth. Day­ton managed only one more run in the fifth.

"We lost our bats," said Jones, referring the girls' mere 6 hits during the game. But the assistant coach had praise for Harting, who pitched solidly during both games and for catcher McK­ayla Bickelhaupt who threw three outs on Wilcats trying to steal bases.

Left: First Baseman Courtney Mings Looks on While Sam Harting lets loose a pitch during the same game.

Jones said the loss was a disappointment for the Lady Dogs, but predicted the adversity will strengthen her players' skills and endur­ance.

"They aren't going to get better if they don't get challenged by other teams," she said.

After seven games, the Bulldogs are 5-2.