MILWAUKEE – The MSOE softball team overcame an early 3-0 deficit for a 5-3 lead late, but could not hold off Benedictine in falling 9-5 in the opening game of the 2014 NACC Tournament Thursday morning at Alverno Field.

The sixth-seeded Raiders (24-17) will now play Friday at 11 a.m. against any one of three different opponents. Meanwhile, the No. 3 Eagles (29-11) are on the field later in the day against No. 2 Wisconsin Lutheran.

BenU jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run first inning, but MSOE did not stay down for long. Back-to-back doubles by freshman Callie Wightman and senior Julie Windish cut the deficit to just 3-2 as Windish's two-bagger brought a couple runs around to score.

Windish drove in the tying run in a crazy fourth inning, in which the Raiders scored three times to take a 5-3 lead. After a hit batter and Wightman single, Windish singled through the middle to score the tying run.

Sophomore Beth Young followed with a fielder's choice, which took out Wightman at third, but a wild throw to first allowed both Windish and Young into scoring position. Junior Mikala Wendt then dropped down a perfect bunt, allowing Windish to score. A throw home went to no one, but Young was thrown out trying to add to the total.

Wendt, who moved up to second on the play at the plate, scored from there on an infield single by sophomore Katie Ready to give MSOE a two-run advantage.

The Eagles then put together a six-run fifth inning, taking advantage of three Raider errors, to put MSOE on brink of elimination in the double-elimination tournament.

A lead-off home run and, later, an RBI double tied the score. Back-to-back errors extended the inning, which included a deep sacrifice fly in foul territory and two more runs scampering home on another error.

Windish finished the game with three hits and three runs driven in, while Wightman and sophomore Lauren Boyle each collected two hits of their own.

In the circle, freshman Sara McConnell (10-8) got the start and surrendered five earned runs in 4.2 innings. She allowed seven hits, including her first two home runs of the season after throwing 100 innings without allowing one. Freshman Shannon Curtis came on in relief and tossed a scored 1.1 innings.