ROSE CREEK — The Southland softball team started strong in its season opener, but it couldn’t keep it up as it lost 5-2 to Dover-Eyota in Rose Creek Thursday.

The Rebels (0-1 overall, 0-1 Three Rivers) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Brooklyn Johnson delivered a one-out, two-run single, but the Eagles took the lead for good when they drew three walks in a three-run fourth inning to go up 4-2.

Southland out-hit the Eagles (2-0 overall, 2-0 Three Rivers) 6-2, but the difference in the game came down to walks.

“I thought Kayla [Swenson] did very well for her first outing this year. We just hope for more improvement,” Southland head coach Greg Schulte said. “Everyone’s getting the bat on the ball and the defense played very well. All around I was very pleased with what we have so far.”

Southland had some scoring chances, but it left the bases loaded in the fourth and it left one runner on in the third and fifth innings.

DE 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 — 5 2 2

Southland 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 6 1

Southland pitching: Kayla Swenson (L) 7 IP, 2 H, 7 BB, 5 R, 3 ER, 5 K

Southland hitting: Swenson, 0-for-3, BB; Ramsey Gilson, 0-for-4, R; Olivia Gray, 2-for-4, R, SB; Brooklyn Johnson, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs; Laura Kiefer, 0-for-3; Mikayla Emanuel, 1-for-3; Lily Riddles, 0-for-2, BB; Ashlyn Reuter, 0-for-3; Meg Finbraaten, 1-for-3