MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team put up a good fight on Saturday at Augsburg University, rallying back to tie the second game of the doubleheader with the Auggies in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately, that comeback proved to not be enough as Augsburg had a game-winning double to finish off a sweep of the two-game set, winning 7-0 and 5-4.

The Cougars will return to action in Florida, playing 12 varsity contests between March 13 and 19. On March 13, Minnesota Morris will open the trip against Roger Williams University and St. Mary's College (Ind.).

Game 1: Augsburg 7, Minnesota Morris 0
Augsburg scored twice in the top of the first and added on two runs in the third and three runs in the sixth to claim the opening game of the day.

After Autumn Theis retired the first two batters of the game, an Augsburg solo home run gave the Auggies the lead and another run later scored on a RBI walk. Augsburg then tacked onto its lead with a two-run home run in the third to make it 4-0. A five-hit inning for the Auggies plated three runs in the sixth for the final margin of victory.

The Cougar offense wasn't able to put too much together against Augsburg starter Saryn Sherrell. Minnesota Morris finished with three hits in the game, with one apiece from Sierra Stevens, Mary Landherr, and Olivia Losee. Theis took the loss in the circle to fall to 0-1 on the season.

Game 2: Augsburg 5, Minnesota Morris 4
Trailing 4-0 after five innings, Minnesota Morris extended the game with a late rally to knot the score at 4-4 in the top of the seventh before Augsburg hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning to close out the victory.

The Cougar comeback began in the top of the sixth with one-out singles from Anna Athey and Stevens before a RBI single from Landherr drove in Athey to make it 4-1. Tori Nichols followed with another RBI single to bring Stevens in and cut the deficit in half at 4-2.

With two outs in the top of the seventh and one aboard, Minnesota Morris took advantage of some wildness from Augsburg reliever Brynn Hostettler to put Athey aboard via a hit by pitch and she and Malena Mahoney then moved into scoring position on wild pitches. A Stevens single followed, bringing both runners home to level the score at 4-4.

After the first batter of the bottom of the seventh was retired, Augsburg collected a single and then a RBI double to the gap in right-center to bring the game-winning run home and remain undefeated on the season. 

Stevens finished the game 4-for-4 from the lead-off spot in the order and had two RBIs and a run scored. Landherr, Nichols, and Athey had the other hits in the game for the Cougars.