Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Morris (7-8, 4-1 UMAC) baseball did something they hadn't done since 2006 on Friday, by starting the year 4-0 in UMAC play thanks to a 5-4 win over Northwestern (7-9, 3-1 UMAC). It was the first win over the Eagles since 2011. They would end up splitting the doubleheader, losing the second game 16-4.
 
In his first conference start of his career, Mitch Reller threw eight strong innings, allowing three earned runs and five hits, including just one hit in his final fine innings of work. He struck out five, got nine fly ball out and nine ground ball outs.
 
Northwestern got on the board in the bottom of the first with an RBI groundout. The Cougars immediately responded with a two out rally in the top of the second inning. Donnie Mavencamp started the rally with a single out of the nine hole. Eric Terres drew a walk and then Jake Schmitz delivered a single to score Mavencamp. Cody Reinke then delivered a two RBI single to right center scoring Terres and Schmitz, giving UMM the 3-1 lead.
 
The Eagles did not trail long responding with three runs in the bottom of the third to take back a one run lead. Mavencamp again started the Cougars rally, this time in the bottom of the sixth with a one out single through the left side. He would steal second and advance to third on a single by Terres. Schmitz tied the game with a sac fly to left field, scoring Mavencamp. Reinke came through once again, this time smacking a double to right field scoring Terres and giving Morris a 5-4 lead.
 
Reller worked a perfect sixth and seventh inning and then worked around a two out single in the eighth. Devin Waldvogel came in from the pen and earned the save, pitching through a two out walk.
 
The first two innings of game two were quite but the Eagles got the scoring going with a two out single in the bottom of the third. The Cougars rallied for three runs on five hits and a walk in the top of the fourth. Kyle Grote, Mavencamp and Terres had an RBI in the inning.
 
The Cougars lead did not last long as the Eagles brought 16 runners to the plate in the fourth inning. They scored 10 runs on eight hits, three walks and had two batters hit-by-pitch. Morris got one back in the top of the fourth but could not overcome the big deficit, falling 16-4.