NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Taking home their first two wins of the season, the University of Minnesota Morris Cougars dominated day two of play in South Carolina. Cougar softball recorded a shutout against Bridgewater State (9-0) in six innings, and kept Keystone College (12-7) at bay.

Minnesota Morris 9, Bridgewater 0

The bats got going early for the Cougars as they picked up four quick runs in the top of the first inning. Sierra Stevens was the first to score, crossing home on an RBI from Alyssa Thornton. Taylor Johnson came in just behind her teammate on a single from Jill Anderson. Working the bases and the plate, Minnesota Morris earned their next run off an RBI from Malena Mahoney that brought in Thornton to score. Anderson was the final Cougar to score in the first, racing to home plate on a single from Anna Athey.

The Cougar defense made quick work of the Bears in the bottom of the first, and Taylor Johnson slid into home in the top of the second to put Minnesota Morris up 5-0. Johnson secured her third run of the day in the top of the fourth as Thornton hit a single to bring her teammate in. Scoring would slow down for the Cougars as they went scoreless in the fifth. The sixth inning secured the victory for Minnesota Morris as they scored three runs to invoke the mercy rule. Thornton came in first on an RBI from Olivia Losee. Athey earned two RBIs for herself when her single brought both Schmitz and Losee into home plate.

Johnson earned three hits in the game while Thornton, Anderson, Mahoney, and Athey each took home two hits. Athey also secured three RBIs while Johnson recorded two stolen bases. Thornton earned the win in the circle, giving up just three hits while recording zero runs, four strikeouts, eight flyouts, and six groundouts. 

Minnesota Morris 12, Keystone 7

The Cougars were the first team on the board in this matchup, dropping two runs in the top of the second. Mahoney scored on an RBI from Ashley Albert as she singled to right field. Faith Hamm came in on an RBI from Stevens, scoring the second run for Minnesota Morris. Keystone was quick to take the lead in the bottom of the second with four runs in a run to earn a two run lead, but the Cougars answered right back when Albert singled up the middle to bring Schmitz and Anderson in to score. Tied up at 4-4, the Giants quickly broke the tie with a run in the bottom of the third. 

The top of the fifth was where Minnesota Morris secured their lead. Stevens got things going with a run off an RBI from Mahoney. Anderson followed her teammate in on the next play to put the Cougars up 6-5. Mahoney and Schmitz both scored on the next play, coming in on RBIs from Albert. Hamm kept the scoring going, and Albert followed her in when Athey launched a triple to the left side. The Cougars sat on a 10-5 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. Losee secured the 11th run for Minnesota Morris in the top of the fifth and the 12th run in the top of the seventh, both on RBIs from Anderson.

Losee, Anderson, Schmitz, Mahoney, and Hamm each earned two runs on the day with Losee, Anderson, Hamm, Albert, and Athey tacked on two hits. Albert led the Cougars with five RBIs while Anderson added two more. Losee and Anderson secure two stolen bases each to aid in Minnesota Morris' win. Thornton led the defense with six putouts in the game. Morgan Wilhelm recorded eight flyouts and six groundouts for the Cougars from the circle.