University of Minnesota Morris Athletics

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team battled in a pair of nonconference games against Division II Northern State University, falling 3-0 and 4-0 Monday afternoon in Aberdeen, S.D.
 
Game 1
Kendra Schmitz was the first Cougar to reach base, drawing a walk in the second inning. The Wolves took the lead in the bottom of the inning, but Alyssa Thornton limited the damage to one run.
 
In the third, Taylor Johnson recorded the first UMM hit with a single down left field but was left stranded. In the following inning, Thornton and Schmitz drew back-to-back walks, but the Cougars remained scoreless. Northern State added two more runs in the fourth.
Trailing by three in the seventh, Jillian Anderson led off with a single, but the game finished 3-0.
 
The Cougars totaled two hits from Johnson and Anderson. Schmitz and Anderson each reached base twice via walks. In the circle, Thornton pitched six innings with two strikeouts, eight hits allowed, and three earned runs.
 
Game 2
Mary Landherr reached base in the first inning after drawing a two-out walk but remained at first. The Wolves took the lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring a pair of runs.
 
The score remained 2-0 as Morgan Wilhelm held NSU off the board for the next four innings. In the top of the sixth, Landherr kept the inning alive by reaching on an error. Thornton recorded the first hit of the game for UMM with a single to left field. Schmitz then loaded the bases with a single through the right side, but the Cougars left the bases loaded.
 
The Wolves added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. A double play helped UMM get out of the inning. Minnesota Morris went down in order as NSU took game two, 4-0.
 
Schmitz and Thornton recorded the Cougars' hits in game two. UMM drew three walks—two by Landherr and one by Anderson. Pitching in game two, Wilhelm struck out one batter and allowed six hits and three earned runs.
 
The Cougars will continue against Division II opponents as they travel to Minnesota State University, Mankato on April 29 for a doubleheader.