BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Hendrix College softball team lost two games to first place Birmingham-Southern College to open a four-game Southern Athletic Association series on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers (19-13, 16-2) took the opener 3-1, then topped the Warriors (13-15, 7-8) 6-0 with a no-hit performance by Taylor Harkins.

In game one, BSC pitcher Bethany Fronk (10-9) struck out seven and allowed five hits, one run and a walk. Hendrix sophomore hurler Kayla Patton allowed eight hits, two earned runs, two walks and struck out one.

Center fielder Maddie Ridgway led the bottom of the first off with a single, was bunted over and scored on a double from first baseman Alyssa Statham to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. Two errors led to another BSC run in the third.

Warrior shortstop Michaela Larabee started the fourth with a double and scored on a base hit down the left field line by junior right fielder Morgan Fires to make the game 2-1. BSC added another run in the fifth when fronk singled and was knocked in with a Statham double.

Larabee led Hendrix at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a run and  double. Patton, Fires and senior center fielder Tiffany Hubbard each had a hit. Statham was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI doubles and a walk. Ridgway went 2-for-3.

Harkins (9-4) struck out one and only allowed two runners to reach on errors. Patton (9-9) gave up seven hits, five earned runs, three walks and fanned two in the losing effort.

Statham hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first for the Panthers. The home team added three more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.

Ridgway went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI. Statham was 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI.

Hendrix and BSC will wrap up the series with a double-header at noon Sunday.