ST. PAUL, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris faced off against Hamline University in their final non-conference matchup of the season. The Cougars would split the day, opening with a 2-7 loss in game one and a 5-3 victory in game two. The Cougars look to improve their conference record Apr. 12-13 with a UMAC series against Martin Luther College.Â
Hamline 7, Minnesota Morris 2
The Pipers kicked off the day with six runs in the first three innings of play, leaving the Cougars with a large point deficit heading into the top of the fourth. Minnesota Morris was able to knock in two runs in the fourth, both coming on a long single from Kendra Schmitz. Alyssa Thornton and Olivia Losee crossed home plate on the hit from Schmitz, closing the scoring gap to 2-6. Those would be the only runs scored by the Cougars, as Hamline knocked in one more to secure the 7-2 victory.Â
Sierra Stevens led the Cougars at the plate, going 2-4 in game one and adding in a stolen base. Jillian Anderson secured six putouts from first base to aid the defense. Thornton threw nine flyouts and nine groundouts from the circle in her six innings pitched.
Minnesota Morris 5, Hamline 3
Once again, it was Hamline who opened up the scoring in the bottom of the third, but the Cougars were quick to respond with a five-run inning in the fourth that secured their victory. Isabelle Derhak kicked off the scoring by stealing home from the Pipers. Schmitz followed her teammate in to score the second run of the game. Stevens launched a long single to center shortly after, allowing Taylor Johnson, Waabigwan Wagner, and Kennedy Biegler to score. Hamline's one run in the sixth was not enough to take the lead from the Cougars, and Minnesota Morris earned the 5-3 win.
Stevens went 2-4 at the plate and earned two RBIs to lead the Cougar offense. Stolen bases in game two came from Stevens, Derhak, Schmitz, and Malena Mahoney. Schmitz aided the defense with seven putouts from first base, while Morgan Wilhelm pitched one strikeout, 10 flyouts, and 10 groundouts from the circle to earn the win.Â