MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Northwestern softball team traveled to Cougars territory to take on Minnesota-Morris in Tuesday afternoon UMAC action. The Eagles put together 30 hits in just 10 innings played, cruising to a 9-0 (game one) and 12-3 (game two) pair of wins.
 
Northwestern improves to 20-14 this season and 9-5 in the UMAC. With the sweep, the Eagles clinch a spot in the UMAC playoffs set to begin next week. UNW sits in fourth place in the standings as Morris is just below at 6-8 in league play.
 
Game 1: Northwestern 9, Morris 0 (5 innings)
The Eagles set the tone right out of the gate, scoring three quick runs in the first two innings. Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) drove in both runs in the first on a single to left field.
 
UNW tacked on another run in the top of the fourth, but really did some offensive damage in the fifth when they scored five runs. The purple and gold put together five hits in the inning – propelled by back to back two-RBI doubles from Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) and Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins).
 
Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) went 4-for-4 at the plate, scoring three runs and adding two RBIs.
 
The Eagles were just as strong on the defensive end – led by Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) who pitched a five-inning two hit shoutout. Kopacek struck out one and walked none enroute to recording her 10th win this year.
 
Game 2: Northwestern 12, Morris 3 (5 innings)
Northwestern's offense continued to heat up in game two as the Eagles put together 18 hits in just five innings.
 
They scored four runs in the first, two in the second and six in the third before Morris earned three back in the bottom half of the fifth.
 
Three Eagles recorded three hits apiece in the game including Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake), Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) and Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West). Madison led the way, recording four RBIs, while Ciara Scheithauer (Rib Lake, Wis./Rib Lake) added three. 11 UNW players were credited with at least one hit in the game.
 
Abbie Nelson (Holdrege, Neb./Holdrege) started in the circle, throwing five complete. Nelson allowed eight hits, two earned runs and struck out four to earn her 6th win this season.
 
Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake) batted .800 on the day – going 4-for-5 at the plate with three walks, five RBIs and two doubles. Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) and Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) each finished with five hits in the pair of games. Forcier scored five runs and stole three bases.
 
Northwestern will return to action on Saturday, April 27 when they welcome North Central to Reynolds Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m.