Box Score DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica Saints faced a three-run deficit before their first at-bat, but ten runs in the second inning put them ahead for the game as they claimed their 13th consecutive Upper Midwest Athletic Conference tournament championship against Bethany Lutheran College Friday evening.

The Vikings jumped to a three-run first inning lead after the first three batters reached to start the game, and first basemen Wade Dollerschnell knocked in two with a sharp single to center. The Saints notched two unearned runs of their own in the bottom of the frame when the first three batters got on base, and the Bethany infield made a costly error.

The Vikings scored another run in the top of the second, but the Saints prevented further damage when pitcher #Steve Gerten# (West St. Paul, Minn.) picked Chris Porter off first base, and #Sean Claugherty# (Jr.-Oakdale, Minn.) wisely threw out Travis Fisher trying to advance home during the rundown.

The Saints pulled ahead in the second thanks in large part to a pair of doubles and five runs batted in by #Brian Marshik# (So.-Arden Hills, Minn.). Marshik knocked in three runs with his first two-bagger, the first of two that would clear the bases that inning. #Tom Juberian# (Fr.-Park Rapids, Minn.) had the other three-run double, while #Chad Peterson# (So.-New Brighton, Minn.) and #Kyle Wojtysiak# (Sr.-Proctor, Minn.) knocked in the other two runs in the inning with a sacrifice fly and an infield single, respectively.

The Vikings loaded the bases in the top of the third and answered back with a bases-clearing double of their own off the bat of Fisher. Fisher was then singled home by Trent Sonnicksen to bring Bethany, who came in later on a double by Justin Schwecke. With the Vikings within three, the Saints were forced to turn to the bullpen early as #Josh Hawkins# (So.-Woodbury, Minn.) relieved Gerten and closed out the inning with a strikeout.

Hawkins tripled his innings for the season as he held the Vikings scoreless for six innings, helping the Saints to maintain their close lead. He earned his first victory of the season while striking out eight Vikings hitters.

The Saints finally touched Vikings reliever Mike Griebok for a run in the sixth as #Paul Kolodge# (Jr.-Cloquet, Minn.) blasted a home run to left center field. #Joe Link# (So.-Woodbury, Minn.) knocked in the Saints' final run in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly.

The Saints now await a bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament next week. Stay tuned to csssaints.com for updates.