Box Score Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. – In a matchup of the top two-ranked teams in the Midwest Region, the third-ranked St. Scholastica baseball team was defeated this afternoon by 19th-ranked University of St. Thomas by a score of 4-3 in the regular season finale at Wade Stadium.

In a game played by two evenly-matched teams, it came down to the Tommies' clutch hitting and St. Scholastica base running blunders that decided today's contest.

Both teams put their aces on the mound as it was St. Thomas' Matt Schuld against CSS's #Peter Burg# (Sr.-St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral). St. Thomas struck first in the top of the first with a Brian Schmitz RBI-double. That was followed with a Roy Larson RBI-single to make the score 2-0.

The Saints, who managed just two hits and struck out 14 times earlier this season against Schuld, responded in the bottom half of the first as #Brian Marshik# (So.-Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View) led off with a double. After a passed ball moved Marshik to third, #Sean Claugherty# (Jr.-Oakdale, Minn./Tartan) hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Marshik. Later in the inning, #Brandon Peterson# (Fr.-Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) hit a RBI-single to right and #Steve Gerten# (Jr.-West St. Paul, Minn./Henry Sibley) crossed the plate just before Peterson was thrown out getting back to first to tie the score 2-2.

Both pitchers settled down over the next two innings as the score remained 2-2 entering the fourth. In the top half with two outs and a runner at third, Brady Field hit a RBI-double to right center to give St. Thomas the lead back at 3-2.

CSS had runners at the corners with one out in the fifth, but would get picked off at first base and then struck out to end the threat. However, the Saints would tie it up in the bottom of the sixth when #Nick Lee# (Sr.-Carlton, Minn.) hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Sean Claugherty (Oakdale, Minn./Tartan HS) and make the score 3-3.

The Tommies then threatened in the top of the seventh as they had runners at the corners with one out against #Adian Kummet# (Sr.-Brainerd, Minn.). The Tommies would try a squeeze play, but Kummet would scoop the ball up with his glove and shovel it to #Paul Kolodge# (Jr.-Cloquet, Minn.), who applied the tag at the plate to keep the score tied.

In the top of the eighth with a runner at first and two outs, Roy Larson would steal second and then came around to score on a Matt Olson single to left to give the Tommies a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, the Saints put the leadoff runner on, but again would be picked off at first. Matt Schuld would strikeout the final two batters as the Tommies prevailed 4-3.

Adian Kummet (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd HS) earned the loss for St. Scholastica. Brandon Peterson (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) was 3-for-4 with a RBI to lead the Saints at the plate. CSS ends its regular season with a 31-4 record, while the Tommies improve to 28-9. St. Thomas has won the last three games against the Saints at Wade Stadium.

The Saints will now host the 2009 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Postseason Tournament on Thursday and Friday at Wade Stadium. It is a four-team double-elimination format. The Saints will play the 1 p.m. game against Northwestern College on Thursday.