HONOLULU, Hawaii – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team was defeated 8-5 by Kenyon College and No. 19 Chapman University Monday evening in Honolulu, Hawaii.
 
GAME 1
Kenyon wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with a leadoff home run in the first and then added another run before the inning ended. In the top of the second, Alyssa Thornton struck out the side for a one-two-three inning.
 
The Cougars recorded their first hit in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle from Elise Stewart, who then advanced to scoring position after stealing second. Faith Hamm moved the runner to third on a groundout. Taylor Johnson hit a slap bunt to the pitcher, but Stewart was caught in a rundown for the second out of the inning, though Johnson reached second on the play.
 
After a one-two-three top of the fourth, the Cougars started the inning with Mary Landherr singling up the middle. Thornton followed with a single to left field to put two runners on with no outs. Jillian Anderson drove in Landherr, and pinch runner Isabelle Derhak advanced to third. An error on a sacrifice bunt pulled the Cougars within two and kept two runners on with no outs. After four innings, UMM trailed 3-2.
 
The Owls put up three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to increase their lead. Landherr drew a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the sixth. Thornton reached on an error to keep the momentum going. Anderson followed with a double to score both baserunners. Kendra Schmitz singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. A double play and a pop-up in foul territory ended the inning.
 
In the final inning, Olivia Losee hit an inside-the-park home run to make the final score 8-5 in favor of Kenyon.
 
The Cougars totaled eight hits in the game with Anderson and Schmitz recording two each. Anderson also led the team with three RBIs and recorded her first extra-base hit of the season. Losee hit the first home run of the season. Landherr and Audrey Olson each drew a walk in the contest. Thornton pitched a complete game with four strikeouts.
 
GAME 2
Losee started game two by reaching base on an error. GingerAnn Lucas drew a walk before Anderson drove in two runs to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead against the No. 19 team in the nation at the end of the first inning.
 
Johnson reached on a single in the bottom of the second. She then stole second and third before Lucas drove her in to push the lead to 3-0. Chapman scored its first run in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Anderson started the third with a leadoff double. Ro Diver had a successful sacrifice bunt to move pinch runner Leslie Murken to third, and Murken later scored on a passed ball. Audrey Olson reached on a double but was left stranded to end the inning.
 
Johnson had her second hit of the game to lead off the fourth, and a groundout moved her to second. Lucas tripled to drive in another run. Thornton drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Morgan Wilhelm came in to pinch run and stole second, but the runners were left stranded as UMM led 5-1 after the top of the fourth. After loading the bases with no outs, Chapman scored three runs to make it 5-4.
 
After a scoreless fifth inning, Losee started the sixth with a leadoff single. Soon after, Landherr entered as a pinch hitter and drew a walk, putting two on with one out. Minnesota Morris would leave the runners stranded. The Panthers took their first lead in the sixth on a two-run single. Chapman increased its lead to 8-5 at the end of the inning.
 
The top of the seventh started with Ashley Albert being hit by a pitch to take first. Olson followed with a single, and Schmitz drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. The following three batters went down in order to give Chapman an 8-5 win.
 
Minnesota Morris had nine hits with Johnson, Olson, Anderson, and Lucas all tallying two each. Losee had the other hit. Lucas and Anderson led the team with two RBIs, while Johnson scored two runs. For extra-base hits, Lucas had a triple and Olson and Anderson each doubled. The Cougars had four stolen bases with Johnson leading the way with two. Wilhelm pitched six innings for UMM and allowed just one earned run.
 
The Cougars continue their Hawaii trip as they play Chapman and Occidental College tomorrow (Tuesday), with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.