MIDWAY, Ky. - Recent struggles to finish close games continued Friday, as Midway softball dropped both games of a doubleheader to River States Conference opponent Rio Grande.

The Eagles put the tying run on base in each of the last two innings but ultimately fell 5-3 in the opener, then surrendered five runs in the top of the seventh in a 5-4 loss in game two.

GAME ONE: RIO GRANDE 5, MIDWAY 3

The Eagles outhit the Red Storm 11-7, but left 12 runners on base and were trailing 5-1 with two outs in the sixth inning.

But after an RBI double by Madison Hill made it 5-2, Randi Delong, who was 3-for-3 to that point, came to the plate as the tying run with two runners on.

But in a great, seven-pitch at-bat, Red Storm starter Macy Kise forced a well-hit ground ball to second base, which Lindzie Runions fielded and threw to first to end the inning.

Midway then put runners on second and third with one out in the seventh, with Ella Baum eventually coming home to score on a line out when third baseman Kendyl Moss attempted to end the game by forcing Payton Druen out at second.

That would be as close as Midway would get, as Rio reliever Meredith Pieratt forced a game-ending groundout.

Payton Baum added two hits, including a second-inning RBI single.

GAME TWO: RIO GRANDE 5, MIDWAY 4

Through six innings, Midway pitcher Breanna Beach had surrendered just three hits and the Eagles held a 4-0 lead.

But things fell apart quickly in the seventh, where the Red Storm opened with four straight hits, cutting the lead to 4-2 in the process.

With the bases loaded, Kendyl Moss then hit a grounder to Delong at first, and while a run came home, Delong attempted to tag Moss out, only for the umpire to rule she didn't make contact, allowing Moss to reach safely.

Midway's first out then tied the game, as the score moved to 4-4 on an Adelyn Wolfe sacrifice fly. Next batter Emily Lane then recorded the game-winning hit, the sixth Rio Grande recorded in the inning, singling home Natalie Bates.

Now 9-25 overall and 8-18 in the RSC, Friday marked the fourth time in the last week the Eagles lost a game in which they took a lead into the seventh inning.

Hill had three hits, with Delong, Payton Druen abd Jayden Timmermans all had two. Beach had two strikeouts and wasn't credited for any runs in seven innings of work.

The Eagles are back home for a doubleheader against Shawnee State Saturday, with game one beginning at noon.