COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris baseball team effectively held Saint John's University to two runs in a competitive non-conference matchup. The Cougar pitching staff would give up just four hits, as the offense totaled up 16 hits on the day to earn the 9-2 victory. 

The Cougars opened up the scoring on the day with a long single from Ben Meuser to bring in Bradie Black and Ashton Pauly to score in the top of the first inning. The Johnnies responded in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own. Bats were flying for Minnesota Morris in the third inning as the Cougars added five hits and four runs to their totals on the day. Meuser scored the first run of the inning on an RBI from Ethan Schmitz. Pauly kept things going as he launched a double into play, earning three RBIs as Peyton Neadeau, Keegan Jonas, and Schmitz all made their way across home plate. 

Up 6-1, the Cougar bats slowed down for the fourth and fifth innings but got going again in the sixth. Tyler Moriarty scored the seventh run for Minnesota Morris, pushing the lead to six points with just three innings left. The top of the seventh proved fruitful for the Cougars as Meuser and Jonas worked their way around the bases to score their second runs of the game and give the Cougars an eight-run advantage. Saint John's would score again in the seventh, but the Cougars maintained the 9-2 lead to finish the game.

Pauly went a perfect 5-5 at the plate, adding three RBIs and a stolen base to his stat line. Meuser finished the day going 4-5, earning two runs, two RBIs, a triple, and a stolen base. Meuser also secured nine putouts at first base. The Cougars pitchers were Travis Godfrey (W), Dane Mammenga, and Cole Mammenga. The trio came together for four strikeouts, 15 flyouts, and eight groundouts while giving up just four runs and two runs. 

The Cougars pick up again in New Ulm with a UMAC series against Martin Luther College Apr. 11-12.