(Story by: Zach Koenig)
Mankato, MN—The University of Minnesota-Morris baseball team ran into a tough Bethany Lutheran squad on Saturday, losing three games by scores of 10-0, 13-3, and 13-1.
Andy Schuster (So. Alberta, MN) took the mound for the opening tilt and struggled right away, allowing seven runs over the first two innings. Schuster would ultimately last four innings, giving up nine hits, eight earned runs, and taking the loss to drop his season record to 1-3.
The Cougars mustered little offense in the contest, pushing no runs across the plate. Nick Hervin (Sr. Cold Spring, MN) did manage a perfect 3-3 game, while Matt Peterson (So. Burnsville, MN) added two hits and Matt Throngard (So. Grantsburg, WI) had one.
Joe Boedigheimer (Jr. Moose Lake, MN) pitched the final two innings in relief and allowed two earned runs on three hits.
The second game again saw Bethany Lutheran jump out to a quick lead with three runs in the first inning off Cougar starter Hervin.
UMM struck back in the second inning, however, when Nik Randall (So. Burnsville, MN) singled, Sean Mooney-Leber (So. Minneapolis, MN) doubled, and Erik Jahn (Fr. Minneapolis, MN) singled to left field, scoring Randall.
The home team extended their lead to 5-1 with two more runs off Hervin in the second inning, but again the Cougars fought to stay in the game. In the top of the fourth inning, Peterson singled and later scored on a big two-out double from Dan Folie (Jr. Fridley, MN).
Minnesota-Morris was not able to fight back any further, however, as Bethany Lutheran added two runs in the fourth inning and five in the fifth to take a 12-2 lead.
The Cougars did manage to score one more run in the sixth inning when a Greg Roth (Sr. Cold Spring, MN) single scored Peterson, who had doubled earlier in the inning.
Hervin dropped to 0-1 with the loss, allowing nine earned runs in four and two thirds innings. Thomas Fox (Fr. Coon Rapids, MN) came out of the bullpen to finish off the game, allowing just one earned run.
Peterson (3-4, 2 R) led the Cougar offense in the second game, while Randall and Mooney-Leber also picked up two hits apiece.
The third and final contest of the day was a mirror of the previous two. Bethany Lutheran scored in every inning but the second against UMM pitchers Lee Arvold (Fr. Blaine, MN), who took the loss after allowing six earned runs in five innings, and Randall, who pitched the final inning in relief and allowed seven earned runs.
The Cougar offense was anemic throughout the entire game, producing just one extra-base hit from Folie and three singles from Peterson, Roth, and Nick Bacon (Fr.).
Already down 13-0, the lone Cougar run came in the seventh inning when Folie doubled and came home on a single from Bacon.
 | .gif) |
| Minnesota-Morris | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Bethany Lutheran | 10 | 12 | 0 |
| Game 1 |
Box Score
| |
| Minnesota-Morris | 3 | 11 | 4 |
| Bethany Lutheran | 13 | 16 | 0 |
| Game 2 |
Box Score
| |
| Minnesota-Morris | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Bethany Lutheran | 13 | 11 | 1 |
| Game 3 |
Box Score
