Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Morris (14-14, 10-5 UMAC) split on Tuesday afternoon in West St. Paul; falling to Martin Luther (15-9, 9-4 UMAC) 8-5, before winning 3-2 over Bethany Lutheran (17-13, 10-3 UMAC). Sam Hanson, Laura Lhotka and Cassie Sowada each had two RBI on the afternoon for the Cougars.
 
Vs. Martin Luther

The Knights took advantage of two out error by the Cougars to pick up a run in the top of the first. The Cougars put runners on second and third with no body down but could not pick up a run as a line drive double play killed the chance to get on the board.
 
In the top of the third inning MLC loaded the bases with nobody out and took advantage picking up three runs. A fielder's choice got the scoring going as the throw home was not in time. Two straight walks followed, allowing a pair of runs, making it 4-0 in favor of the Knights. Rikki Beaver came in to relieve in between the walks, after allowing a walk she induced a ground ball double play to quickly get two outs. A fly ball to center ended the inning and the damage.
 
The Morris bats awoke in the bottom of the fifth as they pushed across a pair of runs. Cassie Sowada started the inning off with a double and then Mandy Allman reached via an error in center field. Kristy Hoge drove in Sowada with a groundout and then Laura Lhotka singled to bring home Allman.
 
In the bottom of the sixth the Cougars put together a rally to take the lead. Kelsey Draper singled with one out and then Sowada homered to tie the game at four. Allman singled and then Hoge doubled to put runners on second and third with just one out. A fielder's choice followed as Allman was out at the plate for the second out. Decker hit a ball to short and they tried to tag Laura Lhotka out but she got in a run-down allowing Hoge to cross the plate before the final out was made.
 
Martin Luther responded by scoring four runs on three hits and an error to retake the lead. Morris could not recover and went down quietly in the bottom of the seventh, losing 8-5.
 
Vs. Bethany Lutheran

Minnesota Morris took an early 1-0 lead in the first thanks to a two out rally. Molly Olson doubled to center and scored on Hanson's single to right center. On the flip side, Mackenzie Weatherly worked out of a little jam and held the Vikings scoreless in the bottom of the first.
 
Allman led the top of the second off with a single and Hoge followed with a double to right to start the Cougar threat. Weatherly drew a walk to load the bases and then Lhotka drew a one out walk to pick up the RBI as Allman scored. It would be the only run the Cougars could push across as three straight outs ended the threat.
 
Bethany Lutheran got within one in the bottom of the third thanks to a leadoff homer to left. After keeping Morris off the board in the third, fourth and fifth, the Vikings were able to tie it on an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. After a scoreless sixth for both teams, Minnesota Morris took the lead back. Alex Anderson reached on an error by the third baseman and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Anderson scored on Hanson's single to center field, giving UMM the late lead.
 
Weatherly went the distance pitching around a two out single in the seventh, as the Cougars held on for a 3-2 win.
 
This weekend the Cougars will play four games in the UMAC Crossover. Currently Minnesota Morris sits in a tie for third place in the UMAC, trailing Bethany by two games and sits 1.5 back from St. Scholastica. The Cougars will play St. Scholastica, Northland, North Central and Northwestern this weekend.