(Story by: Zach Koenig)
Minneapolis, MN—In their opening contests of the season, the University of Minnesota-Morris baseball team split a doubleheader with Macalester on Thursday at the Metrodome, first losing 14-6 and then winning 6-5.
The first contest saw Dan Folie (Jr. Fridley, MN) and Matt Throngard (So. Grantsburg, WI) drive in three runs apiece for the Cougars to lead the offensive effort.
However, three errors and two hit batsmen by the Cougars in the first inning allowed Macalester to bat around en route to eight runs. Starting pitcher Folie was charged with 10 runs (four earned) in one and a third innings and took the loss, while Andy Schuster (So. Alberta, MN) pitched the remaining four and two thirds innings giving up just one earned run.
The second game was much more competitive. Despite a 4-0 deficit after the third inning, the Cougars put themselves back in the game with two runs thanks to doubles from Greg Roth (Sr. Cold Spring, MN) and Folie scoring Kirby Marquart (Sr. Hancock, MN) and Roth.
The Cougars then took a 6-4 lead the following inning on hits from Scott Barta (Fairbault, MN), Marquart, and Folie.
Macalester picked up one more run in the sixth inning to cut UMM’s lead to one (6-5), then put runners on first and second with just one out in the bottom of the seventh. However, Roth was able to induce a 4-6-3 double play to end the game and preserve the victory.
Cougar starting pitcher Lee Arvold (Fr. Blaine, MN), struck out six batters in three innings while giving up four earned runs, while Nik Randall (So. Burnsville, MN) allowed just one earned run over three innings of his own. Arvold picked up the win and Roth got the save.
Marquart both scored and drove in two runs to lead the Cougar offense, while Roth and Folie had two RBIs each.
The Cougars (1-1) now head to Ft. Myers, Florida, home of the Minnesota Twins’ spring training facilities, to compete in the Gene Cusic Classic. They will play a doubleheader against St. Lawrence on Saturday, March 15, with games scheduled at 4:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
 |  |
| Minnesota-Morris | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Macalester | 14 | 9 | 1 |
| Game one |
Game 1 box
| |
| Minnesota-Morris | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| Macalester | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Game two |
Game 2 box
Pictures from the Macalester games at the Dome.
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