MANKATO, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team had its best season in program history come to a close on Friday afternoon in an 11-1 loss to the University of Northwestern in a UMAC Tournament elimination game.

Northwestern jumped on top in the first inning with three hits – two for extra bases – that left the Eagles with a 2-0 lead. A Minnesota Morris response in the bottom of the inning was cut short as Skyla Bristol hit a hard line drive right to the second baseman with the bases loaded and a throw to first doubled up Alyssa Thornton to end the threat.

Things got worse for the Cougars in the top of the second when Northwestern collected four straight singles to start the inning and increase its lead to 4-0 before a sac fly made it 5-0. Another RBI single followed as the Eagle advantage grew to 6-0 before reliever Athena Grimley came on and retired the side. Following a Tori Nichols to lead off the bottom of the second, Minnesota Morris again loaded the bases with one down but were unable to scratch any runs across.

Minnesota Morris finally did get on the board in the bottom of the fourth. A one-out Anna Athey double was followed by a single from Sierra Stevens. When Alice Wilkinson laid down a sac bunt, Athey came in from third, cutting it to 6-1.

The Eagles got the lead back to six runs on a sac fly in the fifth inning, then took complete command of the contest with a trio of two-out singles that ended with four runs crossing home plate as the lead grew to 11-1. In their final turn at the plate, the Cougars once again challenged Northwestern pitching. Both Kendra Schmitz and Olivia Losee reached to start the inning and the bases were loaded with  two outs before a bang-bang play at third resulted in a force out that ended the game.

The Cougars finished the afternoon with 11 runners left on base. Stevens was the lone hitter in the order with two hits, going 2-for-4. Thornton took the loss in the circle to wrap up her first UMN Morris campaign with a record of 12-4.

Minnesota Morris finishes the year with program records for wins (28) and winning percentage (.667), along with an 18-game winning streak that obliterated the previous program record of 10 wins in a row. With a 15-3 record in UMAC play, the Cougars earned a share of the conference title for the first time as well.