AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team split its two contests on Tuesday, dropping the opener to Framingham State University, 6-1, before coming back in the afternoon for a 5-4 win over Oswego State University. The Cougars are now 1-7 on the season.

Action continues on Thursday for Minnesota Morris with matchups against Lasell University at 2 p.m. (EDT) and Lake Forest College at 4:30 p.m. (EDT).

Framingham State 6, Minnesota Morris 1
Framingham State jumped ahead with a run in the second, four in the third, and one more in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead on Minnesota Morris. That would be plenty for the Rams, with the Cougars limited to four hits in the game.

In the top of the seventh, the Cougars were able to get on the board. Tori Nichols led off with a single and Anna Athey then pinch-ran. Athey stole second and went to third on an Adrianna Johnson single. Nevaeh Polanco drove in Athey on a sacrifice fly to center.

Johnson went 5.2 innings but took the loss despite giving up just two runs (one earned) and striking out six.

Minnesota Morris 5, Oswego State 4
After going behind for the first time all game in the top of the seventh, Minnesota Morris rallied for two runs in the bottom of the inning to earn its first win of the season.

The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Sierra Stevens led off with a double and stole third before scoring on a passed ball to make it 1-0.

Oswego State came back to tie the score in the top of the second after Kylie Detz reached on an error. Pinch-runner Adriana Marini came around to score on a two-out RBI single from Madison Hoeflich.

Both pitchers cruised through the middle innings until Minnesota Morris struck for two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Olivia Losee led off with a single followed by an error from the Lakers to put two aboard. Brenna Mahoney drove in Losee for a 2-1 lead and Stevens followed with a RBI single that brought Johnson home to make it 3-1.

An error from Minnesota Morris opened the door for Oswego State to get one run back in the top of the sixth. The Lakers then led off the seventh with back-to-back singles. With one down, a Fiona Higgins double drove in both runners to give OSU a 4-3 lead, but Johnson was able to limit the damage and strand two runners by getting Detz to strike out looking to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Anna Baumann sparked a rally with a one-out walk followed by a Brenna Mahoney single. A walk to Stevens loaded the bases and another walk to Alice Wilkinson forced Baumann in, tying the score at 4-4. The game-winning hit came off the bat of Nichols as she squared one up and singled to center to bring Mahoney in.

Stevens led the offense with a 2-for-3 day and a walk from the lead-off spot. Johnson earned the victory in the circle, going the distance and giving up only two earned runs while striking out four.