NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The University of Minnesota Morris softball team picked up two games against Delaware Valley University and Sweet Briar College to make up for rain cancellations earlier this week. The Cougars dropped both games, falling to the Aggies 6-9 and closing out the day with a 6-11 loss to the Vixens. Minnesota Morris softball moves to a 2-8 record with six more games to play in South Carolina. 

Delaware Valley 9, Minnesota Morris 6

Delaware Valley was the first to get on the board in the top of the first inning with the Cougars hot on their tail. Alyssa Thornton broke the scoring open for Minnesota Morris in the bottom of the first, cross home plate on a long double from Kendra Schmitz. The Aggies jumped out to a three run lead in the top of the second that went unanswered. Ashley Albert picked up the Cougars' second run in the bottom of the third, but Minnesota Morris would go scoreless for the next two innings while giving up five runs. 

Heading into the bottom of the sixth down 2-9, the Cougars looked to rally and take back the game. Taylor Johnson jump started the rally, followed by runs from Sierra Stevens and Anna Athey who scored in RBIs from Thornton. Olivia Losee was the final cougar to score as Delaware Valley squashed the Cougars' rally and held them at six in the bottom of the seventh. 

Thornton secured three hits, while Stevens and Jillian Anderson knocked two into play. Thornton added two RBIs onto her stat line in the game. Athey secured ten putouts on defense for the Cougars from behind the plate, with Anderson adding six more. 

Sweet Briar 11, Minnesota Morris 6

The Vixens were the first to get on the board in the top of the first, but the Cougars answered back and more in the bottom of the inning. Albert launched a long single to right field to bring both Thornton and Johnson in to score. Stevens kept the scoring going in the bottom of the second to give Minnesota Morris a 3-1 lead. Sweet Briar had a big third inning, bringing in four runs to take a 5-3 lead. 

The Cougars rallied in the bottom of the third, bringing in three runs to take a 6-5 lead. Athey started the scoring, coming in on an RBI from Johnson. Johnson then scored a run of her own on a passed ball from the Vixens. Thornton was the final Cougar to score on an RBI from Albert. Sweet Briar turned on the heat, scoring six more runs on the game to take an 11-6 lead.

The Cougars' five hits came from Stevens, Johnson, Thornton, Schmitz, and Albert. Albert also brought in three runs for the Minnesota Morris offense. Johnson and Schmitz led the Cougar defense with five putouts apiece.