Cougars Rally in Eighth for Win over Northland

Nik Randall scoring the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.

The Cougar baseball team let a late lead slip away and then rallied to regain it in the eighth inning of a 5-4 win over Northland College.

Box Score

After leading 3-1 for four innings, the Cougars, seeming to have the game in hand, let visiting Northland temporarily snatch the lead only to reclaim it in the bottom of the eighth inning for an eventual 5-4 victory at Cougar Prairie Field.

Ian Olson's second home run of the season tied the game at 4 in the bottom of the eighth. Catcher Sean Mooney-Leber, atoning for a costly error in the top of the inning, singled home first baseman Nik Randall for the one-run lead.

Sophomore Jordan Gegen threw a two-hitter over eight innings and persevered through some late-game drama to earn the win. Sophomore Ted Gray pitched the ninth inning for the save.

Despite the blustery and wet conditions, it appeared to be easy going for UMM early. Centerfielder Nick Bacon led off the game with a double, followed by another double from right fielder Drew Lundquist, scoring Bacon. Then a single from shortstop Matt Peterson brought home Lundquist. Three batters: two runs.

The Cougars would pick up another run in the second but then stalled for the next four innings. They could afford to because the Lumberjacks were having trouble with Gegen. Northland went hitless innings three through seven.

But then in the eighth, Northland started off with two walks, followed by another base runner due to a Cougars' fielding error.

With the bases loaded and no out, Northland's Ryan Johnson hit a nubber to the left of pitcher's mound. Third baseman Josh Ledin fielded the ball cleanly and threw to home for an easy force. But Mooney, trying to covert the double play, threw high over Randall's outstretched glove at first base, allowing Bryce Szymanski to score from second base and tie the game. A second fielder choice scored another Northland run, giving them a 4-3 lead.

After a Peterson groundout, Olson came to bat and quickly fell into a 1-2 hole. He battled back to a full count and hit the next pitch into left field where a Lumberjack gave chase then watched in vain as the ball sailed of the maroon colored wall.

Randall reached base on an error and moved to second on a Gegen single. After a Northland pitching change, Ledin fouled out to left field. That's when Mooney blooped a pitch into shallow right field where the ball fell in between to chasing Northland players. Randall scored easily from second.

The win improves UMM's conference record to 6-10, still within closing distance of fourth place in the UMAC, the final spot for postseason play.

The Cougars play two with Northland tomorrow.

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