MANKATO, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris baseball team fell 7-2 to Bethany Lutheran College in the series finale of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play Sunday afternoon in Mankato, Minn.
Minnesota Morris drops to 4-2 in the UMAC and 7-12 overall, while Bethany Lutheran improves to 12-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
Landen Meyerdirk doubled to left field to start the game. The Cougars struck first when
Ben Meuser doubled to drive in Meyerdirk.
Peyton Neadeau drew a walk, and a wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position. The Cougars left two runners stranded but led 1-0 after the top of the first.
The Vikings evened the score in the bottom of the second with a single and a double.
Travis Godfrey got out of the inning by striking out the final batter. The next 18 batters were retired, keeping the game tied through five innings.
Tyler Moriarty broke up the streak with a single to left field.
Kellan Oligmueller drew a walk to put two runners on with one out, but a strikeout and a runner being thrown out on the basepaths ended the inning for UMM. The Vikings got their next baserunner in the seventh with a single, and two more singles put BLC back on top 2-1 after seven innings.
Meyerdirk reached in the eighth after being hit by a pitch, and Moriarty followed with his third hit of the game. With two on and two outs, Oligmueller struck out, but an error by the catcher allowed him to reach and loaded the bases, keeping the inning alive. Neadeau worked a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 2-2, but Minnesota Morris could not add any more runs.
The Vikings broke the game open in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs to secure a 7-2 victory.
Minnesota Morris tallied six hits in the loss, with Moriarty recording three. Meyerdirk, Meuser, and Trever Haberman each added one hit. Both runs were scored by Meyerdirk, while Meuser and Neadeau each recorded an RBI. Neadeau also drew both of the team's walks.
Godfrey pitched seven innings, striking out eight while allowing five hits, two walks, and three earned runs. Oligmueller recorded the final three outs.
The Cougars are scheduled to host North Central University for a three-game series beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
