From softball player to nurse. After spending five years with the UMSL softball program, senior Morgan Hill will make that transition upon graduation in May to a profession that is on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.
 
"I'm excited to be a nurse. It's been great to see nurses that are going out there every day to work to help others while people are scared. There's a chance they could harm their own families, but knowing they want to take care of people is one of the reasons I really like nursing."
 
Hill didn't always know she wanted to be a nurse. A talk with former teammate (and current nurse) Reagan Osborn helped prompt her decision. 
 
"I wanted to graduate and be able to find a job and Reagan said that's why she chose nursing. So, I gave it some time and really thought about myself and who I am as a person. I love to care for people and love to talk to people, so it was right up my alley."
 
So, she became a nursing major and has never looked back.
 
"It's been the best decision and greatest experience. I love the nursing program at UMSL."
 
Hill is used to transitions in life. She made a big one when she decided to come to UMSL from her hometown of Anchorage, Alaska. Softball and the success of the program both factored heavily in her decision.
 
"I also knew I wanted a change and wanted to get out of Anchorage for a while. I wanted a big city, but nothing too big, and St. Louis has fit that. I also thought Division II was up my alley in regards to being able to play softball."
 
Hill found both success and playing time at UMSL. She redshirted her first year in St. Louis and then appeared in 148 career games, where she recorded 121 hits, including 16 doubles and two home runs, and drove in 52 runs, while scoring 53. Over the course of the left fielder's career, UMSL posted a 177-79 record, won two GLVC championships and made four NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
Those numbers may have been higher, but Hill and her teammates will never know what could have been this year as the season was cancelled just before the start of the conference season with the Tritons owning a 12-12 record.
 
"I was excited about this year. We started off slow, but we were ready for conference. We had a lot of young talent and were confident going into the start of conference play."
 
Now not having softball has been an adjustment. Some days Hill wants to cry and other days she's confused.
 
"It's hard not having that last game and that last chance to make it to the national tournament. You work hard all year with fall ball and offseason workouts and then to not have that chance to reach is goal is hard."
 
Still she wouldn't trade her experience at UMSL as a softball player for anything.
 
"It's been everything I could have asked for and more. Before I came to UMSL I saw the success the softball team was having and then to come here and make that part of my own story has been neat. It's been an honor to represent UMSL softball."