The Lady Cougars (3-3) got off to a good start in the game as MVNU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman outfielder MacKenzie Shaw led off with a walk, junior shortstop Tasha Konkle reached on an error, and junior catcher Caitlin Murphy singled to left field to drive in a run. However, that was the only run that the Lady Cougars could push across.

MVNU maintained its 1-0 lead until the top of the sixth inning when the Dutchwomen (7-1) got a lead-off double from Michelle Rogers and an RBI-single from Megan Kakins to knot the score at 1-1.

Then, in the top of the seventh inning, Erika Hillenbrand reached second on an error to start the frame. Two outs later, she came around to score on a single by Kaitlin Graham to put Union on top 2-1.

The Lady Cougars threatened to send the game to extra innings or even possibly win it in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs and down to her last strike, sophomore second baseman Kristin Kurelic (left) reached on a single back to the pitcher. Freshman outfielder MacKenzie Shaw followed with an infield single of her own to second base to put runners at first and second. Then, Konkle lined a single to centerfield, but Kurelic was thrown out at the plate on a bang-bang play to end the game as MVNU suffered the heart-breaking defeat.

Senior right-hander Candace White (3-3) took the tough loss for the Lady Cougars as she scattered eight hits, one walk, and two runs (one earned) over seven innings with one strikeout.

Lindsay Colvin (2-0) picked up the win on the mound for the Dutchwomen as she allowed eight hits, one walk, and one run over seven innings with four strikeouts.

Kurelic went 2-for-2 to pace the MVNU offense, while Rogers was 3-for-4 and Graham and Kakins each had two hits to lead Union.

MVNU will close out its spring trip on Friday when the Lady Cougars will take on NAIA No. 23 Columbia (Mo.) College in a doubleheader starting at 9:30 a.m.