MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- Softball got a historic first victory at their new home field on Friday and also got in the win column in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play for the first time this season. The Rams split their afternoon double-header with The University of Minnesota-Morris at East Phillips Park, winning 8-5 and losing 21-1.

Game one saw the Rams fall behind 3-0 in the first before rallying back in the second to trail 3-2 after three innings. NCU held the Cougars off the scoreboard in the top of the fourth before finding three runs in their part of the inning to take a 5-3 lead.

The key rally in the fourth started when sophomores Meryn Garvey (Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt) and Jamie High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) each walked. Senior Paisley Bennett (Monroe, Wis./Wis.) then reached and moved up on a throwing error by the third baseman that allowed Garvey to score from second and moved Jamie High to third. After a popup recorded the first out, freshman Allison Monson (Wadena, Minn./Wadena-Deer Creek) singled to right field which scored Bennett and High to complete the rally.

After giving up a run in the fifth NCU plated three more in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-4 lead. Senior Rachael Thearin (Hayward, Wis./Hayward) drew a one out walk and stole second. Meryn Garvey then singled and moved up on the throw when Thearin scored from second. Jamie High then doubled to left to score Garvey and Paisley Bennett singled up the middle to drive in High.

After a scoreless sixth for both sides, NCU allowed one run in the seventh before cutting the Cougars rally short with a 8-5 victory. Meryn Garvey had a great game at the plate going 2-2 with a walk and an RBI while earning the win in the pitching circle. Rachael Thearin and Jamie High were each 1-3 with a walk and a double while Paisley Bennett and Allison Monson were 1-3 with 2 RBI a piece. The victory is the first for the Rams at their new home field at East Phillips Park.

Game two was not nearly as positive for the Rams as they struggled in the field and at the plate in a 21-1 loss. The Cougars blasted the Rams with 20 hits, 2 home runs and 14 earned runs while the Rams managed just thee hits in the game.

Freshman Holly Pieper (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake), Meryn Garvey and Jamie High were the only Rams to hit safely in the game. Junior Keishia Carpentier (Coon Rapids, Minn./Anoka-Ramsey CC), Megan Myers, Rachael Thearin and senior Rachel Powell (Duncansville, Pa./Holidaysburg) all drew walks in the game.

North Central gets back to work tomorrow with an 11 a.m. double header versus Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minn.) at East Phillips Park.