University of Minnesota Morris Athletics

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris softball team held its own against No. 1 seed University of Northwestern in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament, but was walked off 3-2 in the eighth inning Thursday in St. Paul, Minn.
 
GingerAnn Lucas was the first Cougar to reach base after being hit by a pitch in the first inning. Kennedy Biegler drew a leadoff walk in the third for the next base runner for UMM. Isabelle Derhak came in as a pinch runner and stole second. Olivia Losee drew a two-out walk and then advanced to second, catching UNW off guard and allowing the opening run to score, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead after the top of the third. The Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the inning after scoring a pair of runs.
 
In the sixth inning, Lucas recorded the Cougars' first hit with a double to left field. Mary Landherr followed with a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Kendra Schmitz then singled up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Eagles had two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh in a tied game. Bryn Anderson of UNW hit a ground ball to Lucas, who stepped on third and fired across the diamond to force extra innings.
 
Lucas worked a leadoff walk in the eighth, but a double play ended the inning for UMM. The Eagles then walked off the Cougars with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning.
 
Minnesota Morris scored its two runs on two hits. Lucas had the team's lone extra-base hit with a double, while Schmitz added an RBI single. Lucas and Derhak each scored a run in the contest. UMM drew five walks, including two from Lucas and one each from Losee, Landherr, and Biegler.
 
Alyssa Thornton a complete game, going 7.1 innings while striking out four batters and allowing three earned runs.
 
The Cougars will play the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Friday in the UMAC Tournament at 1:30 p.m.