MAPLE GROVE, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris continues to fight for entrance into the UMAC Tournament after dropping the first game of the three-game series against North Central University. Cougar baseball gave up eight runs in the fourth inning to lose their lead and fall to their conference opponent. Going head-to-head again tomorrow (Apr. 3), the two teams will face each other in a double-header starting at 3:00 pm.

Beginning their lead early, the Cougars scored in the top of the first, third, and fourth innings to jump up 3-0 over the Rams. Ashton Pauly was the first to score on a wild pitch from North Central, while David Steffen scored in the third after launching a double down the left field line. Tyler Moriarty scored the third run for Minnesota Morris after hitting a single and stealing a base on his way home. After an error from the Cougars allowed two runs for the Rams, the momentum carried North Central to a dominant 8-3 lead. Both teams would go scoreless for four innings before a long single from Ethan Schmitz brought in Pauly and Bradie Black to score in the ninth. Unfortunately, this would not be enough as the Cougars fell 5-8 to move to 11-8 in UMAC play.

The Cougars' hits at the plate today came from Black, Steffen, Ben Meuser (2), Schmitz, and Moriarty. Schmitz also picked up two RBIs on the day. Steffen and Meuser both hit doubles into play with Steffen also picking up a stolen base with Schmitz. On the mound for the Cougars, Josh Osten and Breckin Silvain collected eight strikeouts, eight flyouts and seven groundouts.