Story by: Zach Koenig)
Aberdeen, SD—The University of Minnesota-Morris softball team picked up their first two wins of the season in a big way on Wednesday, defeating Presentation College 15-5 and 10-8.
The Cougars got the bats going right away in the first game. Walks to Heidi Miller (Fr. Eden Valley, MN) and Heather Briese (Fr. Fergus Falls, MN) were combined with hits from Diane Blommel (Fr. Long Prairie, MN) and Stephanie Wilson (So. Detroit Lakes, MN) to give UMM a quick 3-0 lead.
Cougar starting pitcher Emilie Kalvig (Jr. Blackduck, MN) allowed a run in the bottom of the first inning, but Minnesota-Morris got it right back and then some.
In the second inning, two Presentation errors combined with a Cortney Nikolaus (So. Anoka, MN) walk and a Liz Leuty (Fr. St. Cloud, MN) double brought home three more runs to give the Cougars a 6-1 lead.
Presentation would not go down quietly, however, touching up Kalvig for four runs in the bottom of the second.
Not to be deterred, UMM again roared back with three more runs in the third to take a 9-5 lead. Julie Rohling (So. Howard Lake, MN) scored on a wild pitch, while two bases-loaded walks scored both Taelyn Coffee (Fr. Juneau, AK) and Leuty.
Kalvig settled down from that point, pitching four scoreless innings to pick up a victory and a complete game.
The Cougars scored one run in the fifth inning, then sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth inning en route to five more runs to make the final score 15-5.
Picking up multiple RBIs for the Cougars were Wilson with four, and Miller, Blommel, and Briese with two apiece. Leadoff batter Leuty scored four runs in five plate appearances.
In the second contest, the Cougars found themselves down 8-2 after three innings. Starting pitcher Wilson allowed runs in all three of the opening innings, while Ashley Corbett (Jr. Forest Lake, MN) and Blommel provided the two RBIs for the Cougars.
An offensive explosion was necessary for Minnesota-Morris to get back into the game, and that is exactly what happened.
In the Cougar fourth inning, Corbett ignited the team by singling, eventually advancing to third base, and then stealing home. Five more Cougar hits later, including doubles from Briana Czer (Jr. New Ulm, MN) and Wilson, and UMM had reduced their deficit to 8-7.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Czer walked and the next batter, Leuty, homered to put the Cougars up 9-8.
An insurance run was added in the sixth inning when a Corbett single turned into an RBI for Emily Holstrom (Fr. Albert Lea, MN), who hit a single of her own.
Corbett, Holstrom, and Leuty all collected three hits in the second game. Wilson picked up the win with a line of seven innings, eight earned runs, eight walks, and four strikeouts.
The Cougars now 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) will host the Saints in a UMAC twin-bill Friday, April 18th at 2:00 at the Cougar softball Field.
UMM will host Presentation College at 2:00 Friday, April 18 at 2:00 at the Cougars Softball Field.
 |  |
| Minnesota-Morris | 15 | 9 | 3 |
| Presentation College | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Game 1 |
Box Score
| |
| Minnesota-Morris | 10 | 16 | 1 |
| Presentation College | 8 | 16 | 1 |
| Game 2 |
Box Score
