HOUSTON – The Matt O'Brien era officially got underway as the UMN Morris baseball team (1-1) opened its 2020 season Friday against the University of St. Thomas (TX) (4-8). The Cougars picked up a 7-4 victory in eight innings before falling 11-4 in game two.
GAME ONE | Minnesota Morris 7, St. Thomas 4 (Eight Innings)
- After the Celts tied things up in the bottom of the first, Brink hit a double to left center to put the Cougars back up 3-1 in the top of the second.
- Thomas brought in a run in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score within 3-2.
- In the top of the seventh, Alex Baumann singled through the left side to score Evan Benson to make it 4-2 for UMN Morris.
- With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Caleb Edmonds hit a two-run home run to send the game into the eighth inning.
- During the top of the eighth, Benson doubled to left to score Michael Nezerka and Josh Doss to make it 6-4 in favor of the Cougars.
- After Benson advanced to third on a wild pitch, Brink singled up the middle to score Benson to secure the 7-4 win.
NOTABLES
- Joe Wehr pitched 6.2 innings and struck out eight.
- Brink was 4-for-5 with three RBI.
- Benson went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
GAME TWO | St. Thomas (TX) 11, Minnesota Morris 4
- The Celts jumped out to a 9-0 lead in game two after scoring five in the first and four in the second.
- After Benson homored to right in the top of the third, St. Thomas tacked on another run in the third and the fourth to make it 11-1.
- Baumann hit a pair of home runs on the afternoon, a solo shot in the fifth and a two-run shot in the seventh.
NOTABLES
- Baumann was 3-for-4 with three RBI.
- Benson was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
- Baumann is the first Cougar since Jackson Gessell to hit two home runs in a game (Northland College - 4/12/2015).
UP NEXT
The Cougars are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 22. Minnesota Morris will close out the series against St. Thomas at 11 a.m. before taking on Schreiner at 2 p.m.
