Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WHITTIER, Calif. – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team was defeated 6-2 and 5-2 by Whittier College Monday afternoon in Whittier, Calif.
 
GAME 1
Alyssa Thornton had the first hit of the game with a single to center field in the top of the first inning but was left on base. Kendra Schmitz had a leadoff single to start the second but was out after a double play. Faith Hamm reached via a single to center field, but the game remained scoreless after the top of the second.
 
Whittier took the lead after four straight hits to take a 3-0 advantage. Olivia Losee got the Cougars on the board with a home run to left-center in the top of the third. The Poets added two more runs in the third.
 
Taylor Johnson reached in the fifth on a bunt single but remained at first. Thornton led off the sixth with a single to center field. The following batters went down in order to keep the score at 5-1. Hamm led off the seventh with a single to right field. An error allowed Hamm to score and Ashley Albert to reach third. A double play and groundout ended the game 6-2 for Whittier.
 
The Cougars had seven hits with Hamm and Thornton leading the team with two. Losee had the lone extra-base hit with a home run. Mary Landherr and Schmitz each drew a walk. In the circle, Thornton pitched six innings, striking out one batter and giving up three earned runs.
 
GAME 2
GingerAnn Lucas started the game with a hit through the right side. Landherr followed with a single to right, but the pair was left on base.
 
In the second inning, Isabelle Derhak reached on a single then advanced to second on a wild pitch. An error saw Johnson reach first and Derhak score, giving the Cougars an early lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Poets drew level and took the lead in the third.
 
The Cougars had another single from Johnson in the fifth to put one on with one down. She then stole second, and a sacrifice bunt by Losee moved Johnson to third. Lucas tied the game at 2-2 with a single to center field.
 
The Poets regained the lead with a three-run sixth inning and held on to win 5-2.
 
Minnesota Morris totaled seven hits with Lucas and Landherr recording two. Also recording a hit in the contest were Losee, Derhak, and Morgan Wilhelm. Lucas had the sole RBI, with Derhak and Johnson scoring runs. Wilhelm pitched the full game for the Cougars.
 
The Cougars continue their trip in California tomorrow (Tuesday) with a doubleheader against the University of La Verne starting at 3 p.m.