ST. PAUL, Minn.-- Rams softball was back in action today at the West St. Paul Dome for a split double-header in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action. North Central dropped game against the University of Minnesota-Morris, 20-14, in extra innings before falling 9-0 to Martin Luther College in the second game of the day.

North Central (1-9, 0-5 UMAC) is still looking for their first win in conference play after a pair of tough games on Friday. Game one pitted the Rams against The University of Minnesota-Morris (Morris, Minn.). NCU allowed the Cougars three runs in their first at bat but bounced back with a huge inning of their own where the team batted around and eight of the nine players in the order reached safely. Freshman Abbey Erzberger (Brookfield, Wis./Heritage Christian) led off a great offensive game for the top of the Rams order with a base hit to third and a throwing error moved her up to second. Sophomore Holly Pieper (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) reached on a walk and freshman Amanda Roth (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) followed up with a ground rule double that scored Erzberger and moved Pieper to third. Junior Megan Myers (Cannon Falls, Minn./Randolf) then got in on the action with double that scored Pieper and Roth. A flyout moved Myers to third before freshman Samantha Bergum (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) reached safely on an infield hit that allowed Myers to score. Sophomore Amanda Johnson (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) singled to give NCU runners at first and second with just one out.

Freshman Danelle Pageler (Warren, Minn./Warren-Alvarado-Oslo) then reached base on a walk before freshman Mary Nelson (Milwaukee, Wis./Grace Christian) singled to drive in a run and keep the bases loaded. Erzberger, Pieper and Roth all singled to drive in a run and keep the bases loaded. Megan Myers then walked to plate the Rams final run of the inning and give the Rams a 9-3 lead after one inning.

Morris got a run back in the top of the second and the Rams left a runner on in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-4 through two. UMM left a runner on in the third and the Rams got their offense going again in the bottom of the inning. With runners on second and third and one out Megan Myers mashed her second double of the game that drove in both runners. Freshman Kylee Bommersbach (Sartell, Minn./Sartell) then followed up with a double of her own to give the Rams a 12-4 lead through three innings.

The Cougars would plate three runs in the top of the fourth to make it 12-7 but North Central continued their offensive success in their part of the inning at the plate. Danelle Pageler opened the frame with a walk and Abbey Erzberger reached with a one-out single that put runners at first and second with one out. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch and Holly Pieper singled to right to drive in Pageler. A throwing error also allowed Erzberger to score from second and the Rams held a 14-7 lead through four full innings. Unfortunately that would be the final scoring rally on the day for NCU.

The fifth saw North Central commit four errors that led to five unearned runs and six total runs despite just one hit by the Cougars. With the score 14-13 the Rams went down in order in the bottom of the inning. Morris would tie it up in the top of the six and the Rams went down in order for the second straight inning.

Morris left a runner on in the top of the seventh and the Rams game to bat with a chance to earn a final at bat victory. It looked like it would be a break through day for NCU league play as Amanda Roth led off with a triple to left but the next three Rams struck out and that would be the last chance for NCU. UMM got six runs in the top of the eighth and North Central had no response in their final at bat.

The loss against Morris was a tough one for the Rams as they outhit the Cougars 17-12 but nine errors allowed eight unearned runs and that proved to be the difference. Abbey Erzberger had an outstanding day at the top of the order going 4-5 with an RBI. Amanda Roth continued her hot streak by also going 4-5 at the plate with a double, triple and 3 RBI. Megan Myers was 2-3 with a pair of walks, a pair of doubles and 5 RBI. Holly Pieper was 2-4 with 3 RBI and a walk. Eight of nine batters hit safely in the game.

After a tough loss the Rams were not able to bounce back against Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minn.) in game two on the day. The Rams went down in order in the first and Martin Luther jumped on NCU right away. MLC scored six runs on four hits and a pair of NCU errors and that would prove to be the decisive frame in the contest. North Central managed just two hits and three walks for five base runners in the game. 

Martin Luther added two in the second and one in the fourth to reach the game's final 9-0 scoreline. Abbey Erzberger and Amanda Roth were each 1-3 on the day. Roth is now hitting .548 on the year with ten extra base hits in the Rams first ten games. 

North Central is off until next Tuesday when they travel to Northland College (Ashland, Wis.). The Lumberjills and Rams are scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch in Ashland.