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Rosemount, Minn. – The Minnesota Morris softball team opened their season today (Mar. 6) with a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Macalester, 4-2 and 8-0 inside the Irish Dome in Rosemount, Minn.

Macalester (3-1) entered the day with a pair of games already under their belt and used the advantage to hold Morris (0-2) to just four hits in the first game, before one-hitting the Cougars in game two, winning in five innings.

Rookie Mariah Essig took the circle for the Cougars in game one, and threw a complete game, overcoming a rough three-run first to finish with three strikeouts and just one walk.  After giving up a lone run in the third, she held the Scots scoreless for the rest of the game.

The Cougars scored both their runs off two hits in the third, with Kelli Hamilton hitting her second career homerun after a Mandy Allman started the rally with a single to left. Hamilton's blast brought the Cougars within one, before the Scots went back up by two an inning later.

Game two went scoreless until the Scots broke out for three in the third, doing the damage on a one-out home run.  They went on to add some insurance with two in the fourth and three more in the third, finishing with 13 hits in the game.

Kelsey Draper started the game and went four innings to take the loss, while Hamilton came in to pitch one inning of relief.

After Liz Skweres led off the second with a single, the Cougars were unable to capitalize and take their first lead, and were then held hitless for the rest of the game.

At 0-2, the Cougars will now turn their attention to their annual Spring Trip, returning to Clermont, Fla. for eight games over a five day stretch at the National Training Center. They open on Mar. 11with Anna Maria and Franklin and Marshall at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. respectively.