Box Score

ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern continued its momentum from Friday's second game into the rubber match of a three-game series against the University of Minnesota Morris on Saturday, claiming the UMAC Series of the Week with a 12-4 victory.

Saturday's first inning took 45 minutes by itself as the two teams combined to score 10 runs. The Cougars took advantage of some early control issues by UNW starter Jesse Donahue (Pine Island, Minn./Pine Island), bringing three runs across in the early goings. UNW responded with seven runs in the bottom half of the inning, using six hits and two free passes to first base. The pitching woes extended into Morris' dugout, as both Mike Studer and Austin Adamson (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) earned RBIs thanks to the Cougars not being able to find the strike zone. In all, six different Northwestern players had a run batted in before the end of the inning.

With a comfortable lead – even with Morris adding a run in the third inning – the Eagles' pitchers started to settle down and find a rhythm. Isaac Meredith (Robbinsdale, Minn./Armstrong), who relieved Donahue late in the first, went three and one-third innings allowing three hits with no earned runs before freshman Corban Halbur (Richfield, Minn./Richfield) earned a stripe on his uniform yielding just one hit to the 10 batters he faced.

Back in the batter's box, Northwestern added three insurance runs in the sixth inning thanks to RBI singles from both Matt Doss (Pillager, Minn./Pillager) and Andy Haagenson (Minneapolis, Minn./Henry Sibley). Andy Peterson (Rogers, Minn./Rogers)'s two-RBI single through the left side in the seventh wrapped up the day's scoring with the Eagles easily in the driver's seat.

Ryan Sutterer (Anoka, Minn./Anoka ) and Doss each collected three hits on the day with Peterson and Haagenson tying for Saturday's RBI crown with three apiece.

On the mound, Meredith was credited with the win. Benjamin Jenney (Albertville, Minn./Maranatha Christian) and Peterson finished the game from the hill with neither one allowing a hit.

The win puts Northwestern at 8-9 overall (4-1 UMAC) as the Eagles take a day off on Sunday before another busy week heading into Easter. UNW will be back in action right away on Monday as Northwestern makes up its postponed league series against Bethany Lutheran College with a tripleheader in Mankato, Minn. Monday's first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.