MORRIS, Minn. - The Martin Luther College softball team earned a doubleheader split at Minnesota Morris on Friday, winning game one 9-4 before losing game two 9-7.

MLC 9, UMM 4

MLC outhit the Cougars 11-9 on the way to a 9-4 win in game one.

The two teams traded runs early in the game, but MLC took command with six runs in the final three innings. 

Kelli Doell finished with three hits (including two doubles) and two runs batted in to lead the MLC line-up. Jessica Friebe, Kayla Rosenbaum and Amanda Schoch each finished with two hits. Megan Lemke and Rosenbaum each scored two runs for MLC.

The offensive outburst was more than enough for first-year starting pitcher Rebecca Pruss (5-4), who pitched all seven innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits while striking out three.

UMM 9, MLC 7

The Knights were unable to overcome an early five-run deficit in a 9-7 loss in game two.

UMM jumped to an early lead with four runs in the third inning off MLC starting pitcher Morgan Palubicki. After the Cougars added one more in the fourth, MLC responded with three runs in the fifth thanks to Friebe and Rosenbaum RBIs. 

The Cougars scored twice more in the next two innings to push the lead back to 9-3 heading into the seventh, where the Knights made one last charge. MLC sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored four runs, but left the bases loaded as UMM got out of the jam to end the game.

Palubicki (3-9) pitched 3.1 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits in defeat.

MLC moved to 12-17 on the season and 5-7 in UMAC play following the split. UMM is now 6-26 overall and 1-9 in conference action.

The Knights will return to action on Tuesday, April 25, when they host Crown College for the final home doublheader of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.