OKLAHOMA CITY - Coming into the program's first-ever game at the NAIA National Tournament today, the Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions had not lost a game this season in which they led after five innings or scored first.

Both of those streaks ended as Bellevue (Neb.) scored two in the sixth and one in the seventh to earn a come-from-behind 3-2 win over No. 17 Freed-Hardeman in the Oklahoma City Bracket of the National Tournament Opening Round.

The loss means FHU (31-8) will have to win three straight games to keep its season alive and advance to Columbus, Ga., and the final site. The Lady Lions were 26-0 in games where they had crossed the plate first.

For much of the game, the third inning looked like it might be the pivotal one as center fielder Allie Carpenter gunned down Bellevue's Shelby Kindelin at the plate as she was trying to score from second on a two-out single. FHU then got a two-run double from Amber Vansandt in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.

Cousar (26-4) pitched out of a couple of minor jams in the meantime, including getting an inning-ending strikeout in the fifth with a runner on third and Kindelin at the plate.

Bellevue (40-9) finally tied the game up in the top of the sixth inning on a one-out, two-run home run by cleanup hitter Kelsie Bridgeford.

In the seventh, Kindelin came back to the plate with two outs and a runner on second and this time, she came through with the go-ahead single.

Kindelin, working in early relief of Amanda Neumann, avoided trouble after a leadoff single by Cousar in the bottom of the inning stranding two runners after getting Carpenter to pop up for the final out.

The Lady Lions out-hit the Bruins, 7-4, but stranded nine runners including leaving the bases loaded in the first. Cousar, Cummings and Norfork all had two hits for FHU. In the circle, Cousar fanned 11 while walking three.

FHU will face the loser of the Oklahoma City/Hastings (Neb.) game tomorrow at 3:00 PM.