MORRIS, Minn. – Porter Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School)'s go-ahead, RBI single in the top of the eighth inning helped the University of Northwestern defeat the University of Minnesota Morris 4-3 on Saturday, helping the Eagles win their fourth consecutive Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) three-game series in 2015. UNW received a solid seven-inning outing from pitcher Tucker Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool), who yielded one earned run on the day.

Northwestern's run production was actually the result of a late-innings comeback as Morris held the early upper hand. Tucker Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) should have been out of the inning, but an Eagles defensive error kept the Cougars going at the plate. UMM's Jackson Gessell took advantage of the opportunity as he singled to allow Ryan Winn to score from third.

The score remained 1-0 until the sixth frame, when UNW responded with two runs thanks to a Tyler Osborn (Clive, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) double that brought in both Taylor McMurray (Vadnais Heights, Minn./Totino-Grace) and Braxton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls). The Cougars evened the score at 2-2 with a run in the sixth thanks to Willie Fust's single. UMM then regained the lead an inning later on yet another defensive gaffe by Northwestern with two outs on the board. Jake Schmitz's single scored Eric Terres from second to put the home team ahead 3-2.

Then came UNW's two-run eighth, which started with both McMurray and Osborn taking walks. Devin Waldvogel relieved Weston Brinkman on the hill for Morris, but a new pitcher didn't help as Ryan Sutterer (Anoka, Minn./Anoka ) hit an RBI single that scored McMurray before Osborn came home on Porter Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School)'s game-winning hit.

Tucker Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) struck out five in the outing before Erik Nyquist (Elk River, Minn./Pine Island) came in for a hitless, two-inning save as the freshman faced the minimum six batters.

Both Braxton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) and Porter Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) had a two-hit day, while Morrell and Osborn each collected multiple RBIs in the victory.

Now 16-13 overall (10-5 UMAC), UNW will play another midweek, nonconference game on Wednesday of next week, hosting Augsburg College at Reynolds Field in a 6 p.m. first pitch before resuming UMAC action at St. Scholastica on Friday and Saturday.