ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris baseball team overcame a slow start on Saturday morning, scoring five runs in the top of the ninth to put away North Central University, 10-6. The win puts the Cougars at 8-12 (3-2 UMAC) on the season.

The first four innings of the game saw Minnesota Morris go down in order twice and strand two runners on two other occasions. Teagan Burch finally made the Cougars pay with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth and stake North Central to a 1-0 lead.

The deficit awakened the Minnesota Morris offense in the top of the fifth. Alex Goedhard led off with a walk and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Evan Benson. David Steffen then singled Goedhard to tie the score. After Alex Baumann was hit by a pitch to put two aboard, Ty Beasley singled to score Steffen. Later in the inning, the bases were loaded when Keegan Jonas worked a walk to force home Baumann and a passed ball allowed Beasley to race home for a 4-1 edge.

The Rams fought back in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out rally. Back-to-back doubles made it 4-2 and Daniel Montana then connected on a two-run blast to knot the score at 4-4 heading into the sixth.

With two down in the top of the sixth, Benson was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second to get into scoring position. Another RBI single from Steffen brought the speedy senior outfielder home for a 5-4 Minnesota Morris lead.

That one-run margin held up until the bottom of the eighth when a two-out error put a Ram baserunner in scoring position and Mike Maanum hit a single to level the game one last time at 5-5 before the Cougars could get out of the inning.

The offense came up clutch when it mattered for the Cougars in the top of the ninth. Baumann drew a walk to start the inning and then stole second before a RBI single from Ethan Schmitz put UMN Morris back in front. A hit batter and an intentional walk followed to load the bases. Ben Leal took advantage of the situation to clear the bags with a double that made it 9-5 and Benson singled before the inning was through to drive in Leal for a 10-5 lead.

North Central had its first two hitters in the bottom of the ninth retired before Montana hit his second home run of the game to make it 10-6. A pair of singles followed before Josh Osten got Casey Welch swinging to end it.

Brian Vanyo went 5.0 innings and struck out five in a no-decision. Ryan Wilhelm (2-0) earned the win with 3.0 innings of relief, striking out a pair and giving up just three hits. Steffen, Schmitz, and Leal all ended the day with two hits apiece, including three RBIs from Leal and two from Steffen.

Minnesota Morris will conclude its three-game series with North Central on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. back at the University of Northwestern following a contest between the Rams and the Eagles earlier that afternoon.