MORRIS, Minn. - In home games moved up from Saturday to the field turf at Big Cat Stadium, the Minnesota Morris softball team swept North Central Thursday to gain their first wins of the conference season by scores of 11-0 and 9-6.

Game 1: UMM 11, NCU 0 (5 inn.)
The Cougars put an early end to the opener by scoring multiple runs in each of the first three innings. The 2-run first inning was highlighted by a Kallie Wycoff RBI triple. UMM added six in the second with half of the runs made courtesy of Megan Knickerbocker. Her 3-run home run to left gave the Cougars a 5-0 lead. Wycoff and Becca Holland added RBI singles to extend the lead to 8-0. Knickerbocker started another spurt in the third. She led off the frame with a double to center. Lacey Sullivan would drive her in with a single. Later, Autumn Mahoney drove in a pair with a single to center to give the Cougars a double-digit edge. Knickerbocker and Mahoney each collected three hits. Sullivan, Wycoff, Holland, and Clare Hamer each had two base knocks. Madison Langrehr tossed the first four innings, only allowing two hits to record the win.

Game 2: UMM 9, NCU 6
The bats continued to be alive in the second game as the Cougars scored runs in each of the first four innings. North Central had their bats going as well as the game was tied at 5 in the fourth. UMM opened up a lead in their half of the frame to take command. Wycoff delivered another RBI triple to start a 4-run rally. Later, Lydia Mann drove in Mahoney with a double. Emily Nordquist and Sullivan each grabbed two hits as the Cougars had 10 in the nightcap. Mann was given the victory as she tossed four innings in relief. 

Minnesota Morris (8-20, 2-6 in UMAC) is next scheduled to play Monday at Martin Luther.