NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College softball team opened the conference portion of its schedule with a pair of losses to UW-Superior by the scores of 3-0 and 6-1 Sunday afternoon.

GAME 1

The Knights were held without a hit until the final inning as the Yellowjackets took game one 3-0.

UWS scored a pair of runs in the first inning, and added one more in the fourth. 

That would be enough offense for the Yellowjackets, as starting pitcher Macy Hansen struck out 13 batters in a complete game, two-hit win on the mound for UWS.

The Knights went down in order in each of the first six innings, but Jessica Friebe and Megan Lemke each recorded hits in the final inning. The Knights were unable to push a run across the plate, however, as Friebe was thrown out at home attempting to score following an errant throw, and Lemke was stranded at second base to end the game.

Kathryn Marquardt pitched well in defeat for MLC, allowing the three runs (two earned) on seven hits in 6.0 innings as she fell to 1-5 on the season. She also struck out three and didn't walk any Yellowjackets.

GAME 2

The MLC offense was unable to get going as UWS completed the sweep with a 6-1 game two win.

Errors proved costly for MLC, as four of the Yellowjackets' six runs off Amanda Schoch were unearned. 

MLC finished the game with eight hits, but was able to push across the only run in the fifth inning thanks to a Lemke sacrifice fly that scored Olivia Knudson, who opened the inning with a leadoff double.

Schoch went the distance on the mound for MLC and fell to 1-3 on the season after allowing six runs (two earned) on ten hits and two walks in 6.0 innings.

Kayla Rosenbaum led the MLC offense with three hits in three at bats, while Friebe added two hits.

MLC fell to 3-10 on the season overall and 0-2 in UMAC competition following the two losses. UWS improved its record to 13-7 overall and 2-0 in league play with the two wins.

The Knights are scheduled to return to action tomorrow (Monday, April 11), when they host Bethany Lutheran in a doubleheader schedueld to start at 3 p.m.