COLUMBIA, S.C. --- To begin their second conference series of the season, Allen softball fell in Thursday's series opener to Clark Atlanta, 7-3. 

After CAU scored three runs with two-outs in the top of the first inning, the Yellow Jackets responded in the bottom half as Elissa Rich drew a bases-loaded walk to trim the deficit to two runs, 3-1. Then, in the fourth inning, Makala Perez lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Faith Robinson from third base, but the Yellow Jackets didn't settle for a single run on the play. As the throw home from Clark Atlanta's right fielder got away from CAU's catcher, Rich capitalized on the Panthers' miscue and scored from second base to cut Clark Atlanta's lead down, 6-3. Although the Yellow Jackets had three base runners across the final three innings, it wouldn't be enough as CAU took the series opener by four runs. 

Rich notched a multi-hit game in Thursday's effort, going 2-2 at-the-plate with an RBI and a walk. The freshman also pitched a complete game for Allen, striking out nine Clark Atlanta hitters through her seven innings of work. 

The SIAC series will continue Friday, March 8 at MLK Park with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.