MANKATO, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team fell in its season debut, 11-0 to St. Catherine University and 17-1 to Gustavus Adolphus College Saturday night in Mankato, Minn.
 
GAME 1
Alyssa Thornton opened the season by striking out the first batter she faced, but St. Catherine scored two runs in the top of the first inning. The Wildcats extended the lead to four in the second. Olivia Losee recorded the first Cougar hit of the season with a ground-rule double.
 
SCU continued to add runs, increasing its lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Mary Landherr led off with a bunt single to third base. A double play ended the inning before the Cougars could bring a run home.
 
In the fifth, Losee drew a walk and stole second base. Kendra Schmitz singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Ro Diver reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Schmitz to third. Diver then stole second to give UMM two runners in scoring position, but a game-ending double play left the Cougars scoreless in the 11-0 loss.
 
Landherr, Losee, and Schmitz each recorded a hit in the season opener, with Losee tallying the lone extra-base hit. Losee also drew the team's only walk, and she and Diver each stole a base.
 
Thornton pitched five innings for UMM, striking out three, walking one, and allowing seven earned runs.
 
GAME 2
Gustavus scored a run in the first inning to take a lead it would not relinquish. Losee drew a leadoff walk for the Cougars and stole second to move into scoring position. She advanced to third on a groundout but was left stranded.
 
Kennedy Biegler reached on an error in the second inning. A ground ball moved her to second before a single from Diver put runners on the corners with two outs. Courtney Smith singled to drive in Biegler for the first run of the 2026 season.
 
The Gusties added to their lead to secure the 17-1 victory.
 
Diver and Smith each recorded a hit in the contest, with Smith earning the first RBI of the season. Losee drew the Cougars' only walk, and Biegler scored the team's first run. Morgan Wilhelm pitched five innings for UMM, recording one strikeout, three walks, and allowing 11 earned runs.
 
The Cougars will play two more games at the Mankato Dome on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 10:30 a.m.