MORRIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris softball team opened up conference play with a 10-7 over Crown College. The windy day would bode well for the Cougars as they totaled up 11 hits to overtake their opponent in their home opener.

Crown broke the scoring open with runs in the first two innings, but a 15-batter inning in the bottom of the third flung the Cougars into a 9-2 lead. Olivia Losee and Sierra Stevens were the first to score, crossing home plate on RBIs from Alyssa Thornton. Thornton reached home on the next play thanks to an RBI from Jillian Anderson. Keeping the scoring rolling, Anderson made her way home on a hit from Kendra Schmitz. Stevens stepped up to the plate for the second time in the inning to bring home Ashley Albert and Schmitz, before scoring her second run of the day on a double from Losee that brought home her and Anna Athey. Losee scored the final run of the inning on an RBI from Thornton, before the Polar defense closed out the inning.

The Polars answered back with three runs of their own in the top of the fourth, to which Malena Mahoney responded with the final Minnesota Morris run in the bottom of the fourth on an Albert RBI. The two more runs scored by Crown were not enough to take back the game, and the Cougars claimed the 10-7 victory to secure their first win of conference play.

Stevens, Anderson, Mahoney, and Johnson each went 2-4 at the plate to make a huge impact in the Cougar offense. Thornton was another key player with three RBIs on the day for the offense. Anderson reeled in nine putouts, with Athey adding on another seven from behind the plate. Thornton pitched all seven innings in the circle for Minnesota Morris, earning seven strikeouts, three flyouts, and 11 groundouts to assist the Cougar defense. 

The Cougars' series against Crown will continue Mar. 22 at Big Cat Stadium. Game one is scheduled for a 1 pm start, with the second game to follow after.