New Ulm, MN - MLC baseball split their doubleheader on Saturday against Minnesota-Morris. The Knights had lost the first game of the three-game series 7-1 on Friday, while dropping the next one 10-0, before bouncing back to take the final game of the series 2-0. (See bottom of page for game three recap)

Minnesota-Morris 10, MLC 0

The Cougars picked up where they left off yesterday by swiping more bases on the MLC pitchers. Alex Baumann was once again the culprit, stealing four bases to give Minnesota-Morris the advantage. The short stop also knocked in his team's runs with 3 RBI. 

The MLC defense also gave the Cougars plenty of chances to score and had five errors that kept innings going for Morris. Meanwhile, the Knights had an opportunity for a comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning when they got Spencer Lilienthal and Mason Cox on base with no outs. However, the Knights left the inning scoreless after Jackson Lindemann grounded into a double play and Caleb Heckendorf struck out looking.

From there, Minnesota-Morris scored another three runs to make their lead 10-0 in the seventh inning. The Cougars got three more outs shortly after to end the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Carter Seltz ended game one with two hits to lead all MLC hitters. 

Michael Fromm went six innings on the mound, striking out four batters with one walk thrown.

MLC 2, Minnesota-Morris 0

Matt Rieger was on the hill for the Knights in game two and pitched the best game of his career. The junior tossed a complete game shutout and had a career-high in runs allowed (0), innings (9), and strikeouts (5). Rieger also overcame multiple innings of adversity, getting out of jams thanks to stellar pitching and plays from the defense. Rieger even picked off a Morris baserunner attempting to steal third, something the Cougars had done alot of. The pitcher displayed great situational awareness at all times on the mound and got help from his outfielders in Seltz and Jordan Ramirez when they threw out Cougar baserunners/hitters in crucial situations.

The run support for Rieger came early on in the first and third inning, where the Knights scored a run in both innings off of wild pitches. Although MLC didn't have a player with an official RBI, the batters all worked the count in their at-bats and forced the Morris pitching staff into six walks thrown.

After the Knights tacked on their second run of the game in the third inning, neither team would get a base hit the rest of the way. The Cougars would threaten in the top of the eight inning though when they reached base off of an error, but MLC was bailed out by a nicely adjusted defensive catch by Cox out in left field to end the inning.

Rieger confidently retired the side in the top of the ninth to snap the 15-game losing streak. "Matt Rieger is a poised veteran on the mound. He does whatever the team needs him to do. His performance today shows his understanding of pitching while hitting his spots," said Coach Randy Cox on Rieger's effort.

The win also gave MLC baseball its first conference win of the season and improved their record to (4-20, 1-15). Up next for the Knights is another home contest when they play a doubleheader against Northland on Tuesday, May 2. First pitch is at 1 p.m.