TUCSON, Ariz. -- Losses don't come any harder to swallow than the two which the Missouri Valley College softball team suffered Sunday to begin the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational.

Purdue-North Central (Ind.) scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out an 8-7 decision over the Lady Vikings in the early game. Later, Valley yielded two runs in the top of the fifth and final frame to lose by the same score, 8-7, to Iowa Wesleyan -- an opponent the Lady Vikes pounded by a 12-1 margin a week earlier at the Evangel tourney.

Valley was down 5-2 going into the top of the seventh against the Lady Panthers, but a two-run homer by sophomore Sara Irminger keyed a five-run rally aided by three Purdue errors and a passed ball.

The Lady Panthers' comeback began with a two-out single by junior Stephanie Zaharias. The next three batters singled, a bases-loaded walk tied the score and a passed ball allowed the winning run to cross for Purdue-North Central (2-2).

A two-run first-inning homer by junior Sierra Bevins allowed Iowa Wesleyan to jump out to a quick lead, but the Lady Vikings tied the game with three tallies -- two on booted grounders -- in the second.

Valley went ahead 7-6 with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, junior Heather Sliger and Kimberly Fuller each clocking two-run doubles.

However, the Lady Vikings couldn't hold the lead in the top of the fifth. Doubles by Bevins and junior Hilarie Droz allowed the Lady Tigers to catch up, with sophomore Haleigh Hempen's single plating to go-ahead run.

Valley got two on with one out during its final at-bat, but freshman Blaise Thomas took over on the hill and got the next two Lady Vikings to fly out -- ending an eight-game skid for Iowa Wesleyan (2-9).

After seeing a three-game winning streak stopped, Valley (3-4) will play twice today -- against Patten (Calif.) and Robert Morris (Ill.).