PLYMOUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team (3-0) recorded three five-inning victories over North Central (0-11) to open the 2019 season Thursday at the Plymouth Creek Center.

On the day, the Cougar offense scored 37 runs on 42 hits, while the pitching staff allowed just four hits and tallied 23 strikeouts in 15 innings of work.

Minnesota Morris won the first game 9-0 then recorded an 18-0 victory in game two and then posted a 10-0 win in the finale. 

Game One
Behind a few early runs and eight strikeouts from Madison Langrehr, Minnesota Morris picked up a 9-0 win over North Central to begin the 2019 season.

The Cougars scored in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Emily Nordquist led off the inning with a single through the left side and then advanced to second on a fielder's choice. After advancing to third on a stolen base, Nordquist scored on a Kallie Wycoff groundout to second base for the first run of 2019.

The fourth inning saw the Cougars tally four runs to bring their lead to 6-0 over the Rams. Morgan Mathews scored from second on a double to right center from Langreher and then she came home on a single up the middle from Nordquist. The Cougars tacked on a pair of runs as Dahlberg and Nordquist scored on an error from the Rams.

The Cougars closed out the game with three runs in the fifth inning to compete the 9-0 victory.

Game Two
The Cougars opened the second game with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, as Megan Knickerbocker scored on a Marissa Allen single to left field and then Knickerbocker scored on a wild pitch three batters later to make it 2-0 in favor of Minnesota Morris.

The offense then rattled off six runs in the third inning and then posted a 10-run inning in the top of the fourth to secure the 18-0 win.

On the mound in the second game, freshman Grace Penke tossed a one-hitter and struck out five in five innings in her debut donning the Maroon & Gold.

Game Three
Minnesota Morris completed the sweep of North Central with a 10-0 victory in the afternoon finale. As the home team in the neutral contest, the Cougars scored in each of the four innings that they were at the plate.

During the bottom of the first inning, the Cougars scored a run in five straight at-bats to build an early 5-0 lead.

Minnesota Morris then scored two runs in both the second and third innings, and then scored once in the fourth to make it 10-0. Three Cougars recorded two RBI in the contest.

In her pitching debut, freshman Mollie Dummer recorded a no-hitter and allowed just two walks as she faced just 18 batters on the day.

The two teams are back in action on Friday, March 15, with three games beginning at 8:15 a.m. at the Plymouth Creek Center.