SUPERIOR, Wis. - Battling the chilly weather and their tough conference opponent, the University of Minnesota Morris took two losses on the first day of this weekend's series. Despite 13 hits by the Cougars, the University of Wisconsin - Superior secured a 4-8 victory in the first game and shut Minnesota Morris out in the second game. The two teams will continue action Apr. 19 at 11 am.

UW-Superior 8, Minnesota Morris 4

The Cougars cracked open the scoring in the second inning with a run from Kendra Schmitz on an RBI from Anna Athey. The Yellowjackets put their first marks on the board in the third and jumped out to a 2-1 lead. A run from Athey on a base hit from Taylor Johnson tied up the score at 2-2 for a brief time before UW-Superior knocked in four runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. With one inning left to score, Athey launched a solo home run over the fence to bring in the third run of the day. Johnson raced her way around the bases to score the fourth run. Despite two more Cougars earning hits, the Yellowjackets put a quick end to the game in the top of the seventh. 

Alyssa Thornton and Jillian Anderson led the Cougars at the plate, going 2-4 in the game. Johnson went 2-3, adding on both one run and one RBI. Olivia Losee and Johnson both secured stolen bases for Minnesota Morris. In the circle for the Cougars, Morgan Wilhelm and Thornton totaled up two strikeouts, 12 flyouts, and four groundouts.

UW-Superior 12, Minnesota Morris 0

The Cougars struggled at the plate in game two of the day, earning just four hits from Thornton, Athey, Waabigwan Wagner, and Johnson. Wagner launched a double down the left field line in the top of the fifth to bring Minnesota Morris the closest to scoring as they had been all game. Johnson stole two bases from the Yellowjackets and contributed to four putouts at shortstop. Schmitz also earned four putouts at first base for the Cougars.