BEL AIR, Md. - The Harford softball team dropped both games of Wednesday's conference doubleheader with Anne Arundel, losing 4-0 and 4-3 in extra innings. The Fighting Owls were halted by Pioneer ace pitcher Elaine Nescio, who earned both wins.

The Fighting Owls were shutout in the opener, as Nescio, who earlier this month earned NJCAA National Pitcher of the Month, struck out 15 while scattering five hits. Brittany Kinnear went 2-for-3 with a double in the loss.

In game two, Harford jumped out to a 3-1 lead after a first inning two-run homer by Kebrina Johnson and an RBI-sinlge by Kinnear in the second of game two starter Shelby Smith.

After that, the Pioneers went back to Nescio, and the Fighting Owls were limited to one hit the rest of the way, a two-out double in the seventh by Megan Appold. Nescio struck out 14 including all three batters in the eighth inning after Anne Arundel took a 4-3 lead in the top of the extra frame.

Deanna Butler held the Anne Arundel offense in check most of the contest. The Pioners collected 13 hits, but the Fighting Owls defense stiffened each time as the Pioneers stranded 10 runners.

Anne Arundel made it 3-2 in the fifth inning, but Kinnear throw out the potential tying run later in the frame at home from center field. In the next frame, the Pioneers tied it with a two-out wild pitch, forcing extras.

The Fighting Owls host Burlington on Friday at 3:30 p.m.