NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The University of Minnesota Morris struggled against UMass Boston and Vermont State University Castleton, earning just one run between the two games. The Cougars will have a chance at redemption tomorrow (March 15) in games against University of Maine-Farmington and St. Joseph's University Long Island. The games will be played at 10:00 AM (11:00 AM EDT) and 12:00 PM (1:00 PM EDT) respectively. 

UMass Boston 14, Minnesota Morris 0

The Cougars faced a shutout in their first game of the day, giving up 14 runs to finish the game in five innings. Minnesota Morris struggled at the plate in this matchup, earning only three hits which came from Sierra Stevens, Kennedy Biegler, and Malena Mahoney. Stevens stole a base for the Cougar offense and had four putouts from center field while Alyssa Thornton had four putouts at first base. Morgan Wilhelm and Marissa Anderson pitched from the circle for Minnesota Morris, coming together for eight flyouts, three groundouts, and three strikeouts.=

VSU-Castleton 6, Minnesota Morris 1

Tough defense from both teams left the game scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when the Cougars scored the first run of the game. Jillian Anderson launched a single down the left field line to bring in Olivia Losee to score. Minnesota Morris' defense held the Spartans at bay for the fifth inning before they began their own scoring in the top of the sixth. The six runs scored by the Spartans between the sixth and seventh innings gave them a five run lead over the Cougars, securing the victory in seven innings.

Thornton had two hits for the Minnesota Morris offense while Stevens, Losee, and J. Anderson each had one. Thornton pitched 6.1 innings for the Cougars with eight strikeouts, four flyouts, and seven groundouts to show for it. Whilhelm came in to pitch in the seventh, earning two strikeouts in her two batters faced.