MINNEAPOLIS – The Cougars (1-1) won the second game of the double header, which proved to be a pitchers duel that went extra inning before the Cougars picked up the 2-1 walk-off win on Neil Arvold's single in the tenth. Dallas Coleman went 9 1/3 giving up just one run on two hits in game two.
Carleton took the lead in the top of the first picking up a run playing small ball. Their leadoff hitter drew walk and then went first to third a sac bunt by the number two hitter. That runner would score as the next batter grounded out to short. It would be the only run that Coleman allowed as he gave up just two hits in 9 1/3 innings.
The Cougars went down in order in the first and second innings but would tie the game up in the third. Derrick Foss reached on an error by the first baseman, whom was unable to handle a short throw. Arvold sacrificed Foss to second with a bunt to third. With two outs Eric Terres drove in Foss with a single to left but was thrown out trying to take second on the throw to the plate.
Coleman gave up a double to start the fourth but the runner tried to move up a base when the relay throw scooted just past Schmitz who was covering second. Schmitz picked up the ball and threw the runner out at third easily. Coleman walked a batter in the fifth, gave up a single in the sixth and then hit a batter and walked in the seventh but pitched around it every time. In the seventh with runners on first and second a fly ball was hit to center but was dropped by Dalton DeGraffenried. However, the runners were getting back to the base and DeGraffenried was able to throw the ball into third to get the lead runner and avoid the error. Coleman then did not give up a base runner until walking a batter with one out in the tenth. He finished the game with four strikeouts.
For the Cougars they went down quietly in the fourth, fifth and sixth, before threating in the bottom of the seventh. With one out the Cougars had the bases loaded and could end the game with a run. Foss hit a foul ball just passed the first base bag and Hodson tried to score but was thrown out to end the threat and the inning. They would not get another base runner until the tenth.
With one out and runner on first Devin Waldvogel replaced Coleman after Coleman walked a batter and hit a batter. Waldvogel induced a fielder's choice cutting down the runner trying to move up to second from first. He then got a big strikeout to end the inning.
In the bottom of tenth Scott Peterson was hit with a pitch and then moved up to second on a wild pitch. Reid Thomas pinch hit and moved Peterson to third with a ground out to the second baseman. Arvold then singled through the left side to score Peterson giving the Cougars the win.
It was the first career win for Head Coach Grant Harding.