Conventional wisdom says successful teams win at home and split on the road.  The Cougar softball team did that, taking one away from Bethany Lutheran yesterday in Mankato.

Game 1

The early session was a defensive battle.  Pitchers Tasha Johnson and Emily Mehr combined on a five-hitter.  Johnson went four innings, giving up two runs.  Mehr earned the win with two innings of shutout ball.

The Vikings got on the board in the first inning, manufacturing a single run off a single, a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt.

The 1-0 lead held until the top of the fifth when UMM strung together some hits, putting a runner in scoring position.  Third baseman Diane Blommel bunt singled to move first year Kali Cordes across the plate.  After advancing on a wild pitch, Blommel would score on a centerfield double from junior Heather Briese.

The Vikings would even the score in the bottom half of the fifth.

Then in the top of the seventh, Blommel doubled with one out.  One batter later, shortstop Britney Glisczinski doubled home Blommel.  Mehr reached on a error by Bethany's third baseman and Glisczinski scored on the throwing error.

Mehr would set down three outs in four batters to preserve the win in the bottom of the seventh.

Game 2

Mehr started game two and would be touched up for three runs in three innings.  That would be all Bethany needed as they cruised to a 7-2 victory on a four-hitter pitched by Abigail Popp.

The loss dropped UMM to 5-15 overall but they stand 2-1 in conference going into a five-game homestand, starting Tuesday against Martin Luther College.

Season Notes:

Blommel leads UMM with a .382 batting average.

Glisczinski has a team-high 14 RBIs this season.

Cordes leads the pitching staff in strikeouts with 21.