MANKATO, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris baseball team finished its weekend series at Bethany Lutheran College with a 9-3 defeat on Sunday afternoon. The loss sends the Cougars to 10-9 (1-3 UMAC) on the year.

Following the offensive outbursts that both teams put up in yesterday's doubleheader, today's game was locked up at 2-2 through six innings before Bethany Lutheran scored seven times in the seventh inning. That was plenty to get the Vikings to the finish line as Minnesota Morris managed only one run in response.

The Cougars took the lead in the top of the second inning and again in the top of the fifth. Ethan Schmitz hit a two-out double in the second and Branden Carlson singled him in for a 1-0 lead. A RBI groundout from the Vikings tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, but Carlson then led off the fifth with a triple to the gap in right-center and Keegan Jonas followed with a single to bring him home for a 2-1 advantage. Bethany Lutheran came back with a two-out RBI in the bottom half of the frame to once again level the score at 2-2.

Joey Reinarts was solid for 5.0 innings on the hill for Minnesota Morris before being relieved by Tyler Carper heading into the sixth. Carper stranded a pair of Viking runners in that inning before running into trouble to start the seventh. A lead-off single, stolen base, and bunt single put runners on the corners before a RBI groundout pushed Bethany Lutheran out in front, 3-2. That ended Carper's day, but Nathen Carlin was unable to record an out as the Vikings increased their lead to 6-2 before Owen Dylong was brought on. Two more singles followed as the score reached 9-2 before the Cougars were finally able to end the inning.

Minnesota Morris attempted to get back in it, but could manage just one run in the top of the eighth. Logan Graves walked and stole second, then moved to third on a groundout before Tyler Scheler singled him home. Looking to add some pressure on the BLC defense, Scheler attempted to swipe second but was tagged out on the play. That left the bags empty with two down and the Vikings retired the next four Cougar hitters to wrap things up.

Carper took the loss for the Cougars to go to 1-3 on the season. Carlson had a 3-for-4 day at the dish with an RBI and a run scored. 

Minnesota Morris travels to Moorhead for a non-conference matchup at Concordia College (MN) on Wednesday at 3 p.m.