AUBURNDALE, Flor. - The University of Minnesota Morris baseball team faced off against Gordon College on the Cougars' first day at the RussMatt Invitational. The Scots snuck past the Cougars in the final innings of the game to take a 14-12 win.

Gordon College jumped out to an early lead, putting up four points in the first inning and adding on one more in the top of the second. The Cougars were quick to tie things up in the bottom of the second as they brought in five runs in quick succession. Ryan McGie was the first to cross home plate for Minnesota Morris on a Peyton Neadeau RBI. Landen Meyerdirk hit a triple on the Cougars' next at-bat to bring in Neadeau and Tyler Motley. Meyerdirk was the next to score off a David Steffen RBI, and Ben Meuser brought Steffen home to give Minnesota Morris their fifth point. Both teams hit a scoring drought before the Cougars snuck up by one point in the bottom of the fourth when McGie doubled to bring in Meuser. 

Minnesota Morris' three inning scoring drought was destroyed by McGie, who hit a home grand slam home run to bring in Steffen, Bradie Black, and Meuser. McGie's homer brought the Cougars back into striking range at 10-13. With the bases loaded, Meyerdirk singled to bring Tyler Moriarty and Motley home and leave Minnesota Morris trailing by just one point. Unfortunately, Gordon College pushed their lead to two in the top of the ninth and shut the Cougars down in the bottom of the ninth to take the win.

Meuser, Motley, and Meyerdirk all had three hits in their five at-bats with Meuser and Motley scoring two runs each with Meyerdirk adding on one. McGie and Steffen also earned two hits and two runs on the day. Meyerdirk and McGie brought in four RBIs apiece to aid Minnesota Morris. Meuser caught 13 put-outs for the Cougar defense, while Aidan Moran added on another five behind the plate.