MORRIS, Minn.-- North Central was swept in a road double-header by the University of Minnesota-Morris on Saturday afternoon. After struggling at the plate in a 10-0 loss in game one the Rams offense got in gear but it was not enough to keep pace with the Cougars in 23-11 loss in the second game.

The Rams played their first error free game of the year in game one on Saturday but they were unable to match good fielding with good offense posting just two hits in a five inning defeat. Junior Megan Myers (Cannon Falls, Minn./Randolf) and sophomore Holly Pieper (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) were each 1-2 and represented the only NCU base runners in the game.

The second game saw North Central dig a very deep hole and even a great offensive effort could get them back into the contest. Morris jumped on the Rams with 12 runs on 9 hits in the first inning. After the Rams went down without an answer in the second it was 12-0 through 1.5 innings. UMM poured it on in the bottom of the frame with nine more runs on five hits and four walks to make it 21-0 through two innings.

North Central would get their offense going in the third and managed to post 11 runs in the final three innings. Freshman Amanda Roth (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) smacked a three run home run in the third to get the bats going for NCU. A a pair of doubles from Megan Myers and Holly Pieper along with a two-RBI single from sophomore Amanda Johnson posted a four spot for NCU in the fourth to help get NCU within 21-7.

Morris added a pair in the fourth before the Rams stepped to the plate on final time. Holly Pieper wrapped up her big day with a single that eventually allowed a run to score on an error. Amanda Roth then drove in Pieper with her second home run of the day. Amanda Johnson completed the rally with an RBI single but that would be all the Rams could do.

North Central drove in 11 runs on 12 hits but the Cougars offense was too much on the day responding with 23 runs on 20 hits. Holly Pieper ended game two a perfect 4-4 with a double and three runs scored. Roth was 2-4 with 5 RBI off her first two-home run game in an NCU uniform. Amanda Johnson was 2-4 with RBI. Megan Myers was 1-3 with a double and a walk.

North Central will be back in action in their first home games at East Phillips Park this season. The Rams host The University of Northwestern (St. Paul, Minn.) for a 3 p.m. double-header that concludes the teams three game series this season.