SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Minnesota Morris (5-6) traveled to Sioux Center, Iowa on Monday for a double header against Dordt College (12-9). The Defenders would do just that at their home field beating the Cougars 12-1 and 8-4 to sweep the double header.
Dordt led off the bottom of the first with a solo homerun to quickly take a 1-0 lead on the Cougars. An error would follow and that run scored on a two out single to double Dordt's lead. Morris could not get much going offensively, amassing just two hits through five innings. The Defenders were able to double their lead by the top of the sixth inning, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.
The Cougars got on the board in the top of the sixth inning.
Jackson Gessell singled with one out and scored on a two out double by
Evan Ellingworth. Unfortunately it would be all the Cougars could do offensively. Dordt would take advantage of a couple Cougar errors in the bottom of the sixth and put the game away. By the end of the inning Dordt would score eight runs on four hits and two walks.
In the second game of the day Dordt again took an early lead. The Defenders would score three runs in the bottom of the first on four hits and a hit-by-pitch. Dordt would tack on a run in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to increase their lead to five.
In the top of the fifth inning the Cougars were able to break through. Morris had a runner in scoring position in three of the first four innings of play but could not get on the board. Back-to-back singles by
Trent Johnson and
Chandler Erickson started the top of the fifth inning. After a strikeout and fielder's choice
Evan Ellingworth doubled to drive in Erickson and
Donnie Mavencamp, bringing them within three. The Defenders would counter with three runs pushing their lead to six at 8-2.
Morris would try to get back in the game with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth but could get no closer. Minnesota Morris stranded a runner in the bottom of the sixth and two in the bottom of the seventh.
The Cougars will try to rebound tomorrow afternoon at Saint John's; first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
