ASHLAND, Wis. - After starting conference play winless in their first nine contests, the Minnesota Morris softball team ended their season by winning five of their final seven games which included a split at Northland Saturday.

After losing the opener 8-7 to the Lumberjills, the Cougars bounced back to take the second contest 15-10.

They started scoring early by plating four runs in the first inning, all with two outs. A bases-loaded walk gave UMM their first run. Meghan Pomeroy's single scored two and Becca Holland's double scored another.

Northland pulled within 6-5 after four before the Cougars added another 4-spot in the fifth. Emily Nordquist started the scoring with a 2-RBI single that plated Holland and Pomeroy. Gina Downie followed with her first home run of the season, a 2-run shot, to make it 10-5.

The Cougars added another in sixth, but Northland followed with another big inning to make it 11-10 going into the seventh. UMM countered with their third 4-run inning of the game to add some cushion. Autumn Mahoney singled and Lacey Sullivan doubled to start the seventh. Bret Hulett brought them both home with a double. Three batters later, Pomeroy delivered a 2-run single that gave the game its final score.

Holland went 4-for-5 in the nightcap with two RBIs. Pomeroy was 3-for-5 with four RBIs. In the first game, Michelle O'Rourke hit a third inning grand slam.

Minnesota Morris finishes the 2017 season with a 10-28 overall record and 5-11 mark in the UMAC.