Haskell Indian Nations University softball coach Gary Tanner promises to keep searching for the solution to fix his team’s late-inning blues.

Until then, he’ll be left to dwell on another pair of hard-to-swallow losses after the Indians dropped 4-3 and 7-4 decisions against Ottawa on Tuesday at HINU.

“We’ve just got to find a way to get them to go,” Tanner said. “Right now, I just haven’t found that switch or that button yet.”

The nightcap was especially disappointing for Haskell, as the Indians led 4-0 entering the sixth inning.

Starter April Johnston rolled through the first five frames, allowing no runs on six hits.

“I was just working as hard as I could,” Johnston said, “and trying to keep myself up and others up.”

Haskell Indian Nations University shortstop Carrah Shawnee chases an Ottawa University runner caught in a rundown. Haskell lost both games of a doubleheader, 4-3 and 7-4,

The freshman escaped extensive damage in the sixth, striking out Iris Elfrink with the bases loaded to maintain a 4-3 advantage.

But it all fell apart in the seventh. After a single, a pair of Haskell errors helped load the bases with no outs.

Tanner tried to press the right buttons – moving right fielder Walita Querta in as a seventh infielder – but the plan backfired when Kelly Higbie shot a three-run triple down the left-field line.

The Indians went down 1-2-3 in their half of the seventh.

“We’ve probably gave away half of the games that we haven’t won this year – we’ve done the same as we did (Tuesday),” Tanner said. “Our girls have just got to learn to win.”

Haskell was also its own worst enemy in the first game, committing three errors that led to each of Ottawa’s four runs.

The Indians scored three in the seventh to make it a one-run game, but mustered just two hits overall against Kathleen Jolly.

“If we would have had our bats going earlier, we could have easily won that game,” Johnston said. “We got started swinging late and couldn’t pull it through.”

Nema Chunestudy contributed four hits in the doubleheader, while Amanda Keener added a pair of extra-base hits.

Haskell will play Friday at Sterling.

“I guess the saving grace is that none of these are conference games,” Tanner said. “Hopefully by conference, we’ll be ready. We’ll get all these out of the way and play.”