Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINNEAPOLIS – The Cougars (1-1) took the early 1-0 lead in the season opener but fell 8-2 to the Carleton (4-1) Knights in the first of two at the Metrodome on Friday afternoon. Game two was a pitching duel that went extra inning before the Cougars picked up the 2-1 walk-off win on Neil Arvold's single. Dallas Coleman went 9 1/3 giving up just one run on two hits in game two.
 
GAME 1
Jake Schmitz singled with one out in the top of the first and advanced to third as the ball got under the sliding centerfield and went to the wall. Jason Hodson then grounded out to second to plate Schmitz, giving the Cougars the 1-0 lead after a half inning. The Knights struck back in the bottom half of the inning picking up a triple and a sac fly foul down the line in the left.
 
Scott Peterson connected for a double with two outs in the top of the second but was stranded there as the inning would end one batter latter. Carleton would take the lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring twice, both coming unearned. After the Cougars went down in order in the third, the Knights picked up two more runs, extending their lead to 5-1. UMM did not have a hit in the fourth or fifth inning and the Knights added three runs in the in their half of the fourth to take a commanding 8-1 lead. The lead stuck until the top of the sixth. Dalton DeGraffenreid singled to start the inning but was retired on fielder's choice allowing Eric Terres to reach. After Schmitz drew a walk, Hodson picked up his second RBI of the game singling to left and scoring Terres from second. It would be as close as the Cougars would get as Carleton went down in order in the bottom of the sixth and the Cougars did the same in their half of the seventh.
 
GAME TWO
Carleton took the lead in the top of the first picking up a run playing small ball. Their leadoff hitter drew walk and then went first to third a sac bunt by the number two hitter. That runner would score as the next batter grounded out to short. It would be the only run that Coleman allowed as he gave up just two hits in 9 1/3 innings.
The Cougars went down in order in the first and second innings but would tie the game up in the third. Derrick Foss reached on an error by the first baseman, whom was unable to handle a short throw. Arvold sacrificed Foss to second with a bunt to third. With two outs Eric Terres drove in Foss with a single to left but was thrown out trying to take second on the throw to the plate.
 
Coleman gave up a double to start the fourth but the runner tried to move up a base when the relay throw scooted just past Schmitz who was covering second. Schmitz picked up the ball and threw the runner out at third easily. Coleman walked a batter in the fifth, gave up a single in the sixth and then hit a batter and walked in the seventh but pitched around it every time. In the seventh with runners on first and second a fly ball was hit to center but was dropped by Dalton DeGraffenried. However, the runners were getting back to the base and DeGraffenried was able to throw the ball into third to get the lead runner and avoid the error. Coleman then did not give up a base runner until walking a batter with one out in the tenth. He finished the game with four strikeouts.
 
For the Cougars they went down quietly in the fourth, fifth and sixth, before threating in the bottom of the seventh. With one out the Cougars had the bases loaded and could end the game with a run. Foss hit a foul ball just passed the first base bag and Hodson tried to score but was thrown out to end the threat and the inning. They would not get another base runner until the tenth.
 
With one out and runner on first Devin Waldvogel replaced Coleman after Coleman walked a batter and hit a batter. Waldvogel induced a fielder's choice cutting down the runner trying to move up to second from first. He then got a big strikeout to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of tenth Scott Peterson was hit with a pitch and then moved up to second on a wild pitch. Reid Thomas pinch hit and moved Peterson to third with a ground out to the second baseman. Arvold then singled through the left side to score Peterson giving the Cougars the win.
 
It was the first career win for Head Coach Grant Harding.