MINNEAPOLIS – Despite some standout individual performances at the plate, the Augsburg University baseball team dropped two nonconference games to the University of Minnesota-Morris on Sunday evening at US Bank Stadium by scores of 5-4 and 10-6.

THE BASICS
SCORES: Minnesota-Morris 5, Augsburg 4; Minnesota-Morris 10, Augsburg 6
LOCATION: US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORD: Augsburg 8-9 overall, Minnesota-Morris 9-6 overall

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS
• Augsburg got the scoring started in game one when Connor Stoik (JR, Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire Memorial HS) batted in Jake Skogrand (FY, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) to give the Auggies a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
• The Cougars responded in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs on a single to deep left to take a 2-1 lead. The back-and-forth continued when Augsburg added two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a Ty Gage (SO, Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) double that scored Steven Salz (JR, Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) and a wild pitch that allowed Gage to score.
• After the Cougars tied it up at 3-3 in the top of the fifth, Michael Weiss (JR, Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar HS) gave the Auggies the lead back with the team's first home run of the season to make it 4-3.
• Minnesota-Morris rallied in the top of the seventh, scoring both the tying and go-ahead runs on a double that made it 5-4 and proved to be the difference in the game.
• Weiss was a perfect three-for-three in the game with a double, a home run, and an RBI. Skogrand was also three-for-three with a double and a run scored.
• Luke Johnson (JR, Northfield, Minn./Northfield HS) made the start on the bump for the Auggies, throwing five strikeouts and allowing six hits and three runs in his 4.1 innings.
• Cam Fischer (SO, Becker, Minn./Becker HS) took the loss for Augsburg, pitching 2.1 innings with two strikeouts, three hits, and two runs allowed.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS
• The Cougars wasted no time getting on the board in game two, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Salz tied the game back up in the top of the second with a single that scored Carson Tomony (JR, Madison, Wis./Madison East HS).
• After the Cougars added a pair of runs in the third, Tomony batted in Weiss and Salz batted in Baumgart in the fourth inning to knot it back up at three each.
• The Minnesota-Morris bats stayed hot in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs to take a 7-3 advantage over Augsburg. Weiss continued his strong day at the plate in the fifth inning, singling to right field to bring Kaden Gage (SR, Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) home and make it 7-4.
• The Cougar offense added three runs in the sixth inning to open up a commanding 10-4 lead late in the game. The Auggies started the beginnings of a rally in the seventh with a Jack Baumgart (SR, Willmar, Minn./Willmar HS) double that scored Stoik and a Ty Gage RBI that scored Weiss, but the Cougars were able to get the last out and secure the 10-6 win.
• Weiss, Baumgart, and Salz were each two-for-three at the plate with Weiss scoring two runs and batting in another, Baumgart recording one run scored and one RBI, and Salz brining two runners home.
• Fischer pitched the first inning of game two for Augsburg, allowing two hits and one run. Matt Moe (SR, St. Cloud, Minn./Becker HS) took the loss and moved to 1-2 on the season, pitching 2.1 innings with six hits and six runs allowed.
• Myer Schmitz (FY, Champlin, Minn./ Champlin Park HS) also tossed 2.1 innings, striking out three and allowing four hits and three runs.

FOR THE FOES 
• Alex Baumann led the Minnesota-Morris offense in game one, going three-for-four with two RBIs and a run scored.
• Joe Pelle was perfect at the plate for the Cougars in game two, going four-for-four with and RBI and three runs scored.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg will begin Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Play next week with a doubleheader against St. Olaf College on Saturday (4/2) beginning at 1 p.m.