DAVENPORT, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Morris baseball team was bested by Utica University 11-3 Wednesday morning at the RussMatt Invitational in Davenport, Fla.
 
Johnny Lopez started on the mound for the Cougars, pitching a one-two-three inning while not throwing a ball to the first three batters he faced. Minnesota Morris struck first as Landen Meyerdirk legged out an infield single and then stole second. Bradie Black singled to left center to drive in the opening run, giving the Cougars the advantage after the first inning.
 
A sacrifice fly tied the game for the Pioneers in the top of the second. Peyton Neadeau reached first on a single up the middle before Blake Imhoff drew a walk to put two on with one out. The Cougars regained the lead after another single from Meyerdirk scored Neadeau.
 
Utica broke the game open in the third inning, scoring eight runs. The Cougars would get baserunners, but it wasn't until a Meyerdirk home run in the fifth inning that the score changed again. That would be the final run for Minnesota Morris, as the Pioneers added two more runs in the eighth to win 11-3.
 
Meyerdirk led UMM in hits (3), runs (2), RBIs (2), and stolen bases (2). Tyler Moriarty, Black, Ryan McGie, and Neadeau all recorded singles in the contest.
 
On the mound, Lopez pitched 2.1 innings, striking out one batter. Sebastian Bark made his Cougar debut, going 3.2 innings and picking off two batters. Kellan Oligmueller pitched the final three innings, striking out four batters.
 
The Cougars are back in action tomorrow (Thursday) as they take on Bethany College at 10:30 a.m.