MORRIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris softball team came away with a close win against the University of Northwestern on Tuesday at the Morris Softball Complex. Stranding 10 Eagles on the bases, the Cougars were able to build a lead and hold on for a 4-3 victory. The victory by the Cougars moves their record to 23-9 (10-0 UMAC) with eight more conference matchups to play.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, despite both teams placing runners in positions to score. The scoring broke open for the Cougars in the fourth inning, beginning with a sacrifice fly from Skyla Bristol that brought Olivia Losee in. Alyssa Thornton was next to score when Anna Baumann was walked with the bases loaded. The third and fourth runs of the inning were scored on a long single from Sierra Stevens that allowed Baumann and Olivia Diver to round the bases. 

Northwestern answered back with two runs of its own in the fifth to close the gap. Minnesota Morris was unable to keep the two-run gap when Bristol began to struggle in the circle. The Cougars stranded two runners in the top of the sixth, but the Eagles took advantage of a few walks and wild pitches and managed to get one more runner in, closing the gap to 4-3. With the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on base, Bristol was able to get the final out of the game on a flyout to Losee in right to close out the victory.

Bristol moves to 11-1 with the victory, striking out seven in the contest. The Cougars collected eight hits in the game, but Olivia Diver was the only player with a multi-hit contest.

Minnesota Morris and Northwestern wrap up the three-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow in Morris beginning at 12 p.m.