MORRIS, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran baseball team took a decisive win from Minnesota-Morris on Thursday night by a score of 16-6. With the win the Vikings improve to 19-9 overall and 15-3 in the UMAC, while the Cougars fall to 16-17 overall and 11-7 in the conference.

Bethany would get a run in the top of the first as Aidan Russell, Liam Peterson, and Brad Bickmann would all single with Bickmann's swing bringing home Russell for an early 1-0 lead. It took until the third inning for Morris to respond, as they would blast a solo home run to even things at 1-1. After a quick fourth from both teams and a quick top of the fifth from the Vikings, the Cougars would strike again in the bottom half, using a pair of singles and walks to bring another run across before Conor Merton would induce a two out pop fly to get out of the jam.

Trailing heading into the sixth inning the Bethany offense exploded, using a Morris error to jumpstart things. Peterson would get hit by a pitch before an error on the ensuing at-bat would allow Bickmann to go all the way to second and Peterson to get to third. Hunter Pearce then gave Bethany the lead again as he plated a pair of runs with a base hit to put the visitors up 3-2. Pouncy would then single to move Pearce to third before both players would move up a base on a wild pitch and make the score 4-2. Malachi Santiago singled to bring Pouncy across the plate before Eli Fest walked to put runners at first and second. Matt Verdugo and Aidan Russell each then knocked run scoring singles to make the score 7-2 before Ben Hopper added a single to load the bases. Peterson would walk with the bases full to bring one across before a balk allowed all runners to move up a base and plated another. With two still in scoring position Bickmann would double to bring both across and end the scoring in the inning as the Vikings led 11-2. 

The Cougars would answer back with a run in the bottom half thanks to a hit batter and pair of hits before they really threatened in the seventh. Jackson Huiras had come on to pitch in the sixth and allowed four straight to reach base and two runs to score to start the seventh frame. The first-year settled in though, getting a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to hold Morris to just a pair of runs in the inning. 

Peterson would walk again to begin the eighth before Will Carlson would bunt for a hit to put two runners on. Pouncy would then single to left field with an error on the left fielder allowing both Carlson and Peterson to come all the way around to score and extending the lead to 13-5. After a scoreless bottom of the eighth, Ben Hopper would knock a two RBI triple in the top of the ninth before scoring on a wild pitch to put Bethany up 16-5. Morris would get a pair of hits to open the bottom half with a groundout giving them a run back, but Huiras would strike out the final two batters to secure the win. 

Russell led the 18-hit effort from Bethany with three hits while six other Vikings added two. Peterson had a strong day at the dish, going 2-for-2 with three walks and crossing the plate three times. 

Merton got the win on the mound, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs, and striking out seven, while Huiras finished up the contest allowing three runs and striking out four.