DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Morris (18-17) edged the Northwestern Eagles (14-27) 1-0 on Friday morning to advance to the winner's bracket at the UMAC Tournament. The game took just over an hour as both pitchers were in complete control. Mariah Essig threw a complete game shutout, allowing just six hits.
 
Both teams got a hit in their first crack at the plate but could not do any damage. No team got a runner past first until the third inning. Northwestern stranded a runner at second and the Cougars stranded a runner at third in the third inning.
 
The Eagles threatened in the top of the fourth. Their leadoff runner reached second after a single and error, putting a runner in scoring position with nobody out. A one out single and a stolen base followed putting runners on second and third with one out. The next batter walked, enlarging the threat that UMM would go behind. However, Essig dug in and got a strikeout and then got the next batter to pop out ending the inning and the threat.
 
In the bottom of the fifth UMM put a threat together after Clare Hamer doubled to left center with one out. She moved to third on a single by Kallie Grote. Grote attempted to take second in hopes that Hamer could score from third on a throw to second but she was cut down in a rundown. Hamer stayed alive long enough to make sure Grote could replace her at third but she was left there after Emily Leeb grounded out.
 
Morris used small ball perfectly in the sixth and took the lead. Alex Anderson started the inning with a single and moved up to second on sac bunt by Gina Downie. After a pop out Molly Olson singled up the middle moving Anderson to third. Cassie Sowada came up and singled to center driving in the only run of the game and putting UMM up 1-0. Essig put the Eagles down in order in the seventh to earn the win and put the Cougars in the winner's bracket.
 
The Cougars will play St. Scholastica at 4 p.m. this afternoon.