The Cougar softball team has quietly salvaged a difficult season, winning seven of their last eight, including a two-game sweep of Crown College at home this afternoon.

Game 1 Box Score

The Cougar batted just four innings in a 20-0 win over Crown in game 1.  First year Kali Cordes went the distance, three-hitting Crown while striking out five and walking none.

UMM's top four batters accounted for 16 RBIs, led by lead off hitter and centerfielder Liz Leuty who drove home four.  Ally Obernolte, Heidi Miller and Britney Glisczinski each had three RBIs a piece.

The Cougars stormed out of the gate, picking up six runs in the first inning, abetted by two Crown errors, two walks, and two wild pitches.

In the third, UMM would tally eight more runs, sparked by a bases-loaded triple from Glisczinski.

Game 2 Box Score

In game 2, first year Emily Mehr got her first start of the season since joining the team last week.  She responded well, giving up just four hits and striking out four.

Again the top of the order provided the scoring punch.  Leuty, Obernolte, Miller and Glisczinski batted in seven runs combined.

UMM used a seven-run second inning to make the difference.  Curiously, all the runs were scored with two outs.  Following a groundout from Mehr and pop up by left fielder Ashley Splonskowski, the Cougars strung together seven consecutive hits to put the Purple Storm behind them.

The sweep today moves UMM into second place in the UMAC, trailing St. Scholastica and ahead of Northwestern College by two games.

Tomorrow, the Cougars return to the diamond for a doubleheader with Northwestern.