MORRIS, Minn. – Minnesota Morris (5-9, 1-3 UMAC) got their first UMAC win of the year with a 2-1 win over Bethany Lutheran, (6-6, 2-1 UMAC) thanks to a two run seventh inning. Michael Dockendorf threw seven strong innings, striking out five and allowing one run. In the Cougars second game of the day they fell to Crown (1-8, 1-0 UMAC) 6-5, after erasing a five run deficit.

vs BLC

Bethany Lutheran looked like their bats would carry them again on Tuesday, getting a leadoff triple to start the game. The run would score on a groundout to the short stop. However, Dockendorf would settle in and scattered four hits over the next six innings and keeping BLC off the board.

The Vikings' Cody Leitner did his best to shut down UMM, holding them to just three hits through six innings of work. Morris did threaten in the bottom of the first loading the bases with two outs but a fly ball to right would end the threat.

In the seventh inning Willie Fust started a rally with a one single to left. Evan Ellingworth singled as well and Fust moved up to third. Ryan Wynn executed a squeeze play on a 0-1 count to score Fust and tie the game. After a walk Jake Schmitz singled up the middle to put UMM up 2-1 as Ellingworth crossed the plate.

Bethany put a runner on in the eighth and ninth inning but could not do any damage to closer Devin Waldvogel, who earned his third save of the season.

vs Crown

It was quiet first three innings for both teams as the pitching was the story. Brodie Raymond allowed just one hit and Crown's starter held UMM hitless. The Storm would take a 2-0 lead in the fourth, scoring a run on two-out double, followed by a run on a two out single. Crown made it 5-0 in the sixth inning scoring three unearned runs and chasing Raymond from the game an inning after he was hit by a comebacker on the mound. Raymond finished with two earned runs and just six hits in six innings of work.

Minnesota Morris picked up their first hit of the game in the sixth inning but could not cut into the Storm's lead. In the bottom of the seventh Morris rallied for five runs on five hits, a walk and an error. The inning started with singles by Donnie Mavencamp and Jackson Gessell. After a fielder's choice put runners on first and third, a passed ball allowed Mavencamp to score. Connor Spindler drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Evan Ellingworth would single driving in Fust to make it 5-2 in favor of Crown. The Cougars weren't done yet, a wild pitch allowed Spindler to score and Eric Terres drove in Ellingworth with a single over second base. Schmitz singled to put Terres on third, Terres would score the Cougars fifth run of the inning thanks to a throwing error by the Crown third baseman.

With the score tied heading to the eighth, the Storm answered the Cougars seventh inning charge. A leadoff single plus a throwing error put Crown in business. Another single would follow putting a runner on third with nobody out. All the Storm needed was an RBI groundout to go back in front, 6-5. Morris didn't do much in the eighth and left a runner on first in the ninth, falling to Crown in the game.

The Cougars are back at home this weekend as they host St. Scholastica in a three game set starting on Friday at 3 p.m.