DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica softball team will play in just its second NCAA Regional Tournament on Thursday when they open play at the Eau Claire Regional against fourth-ranked Luther College (Iowa).
Game Times:
Thursday – 11 a.m. (Gelein Field at Carson Park)
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Last Action:
The Saints went 3-0 over the weekend to capture to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament Title. The Saints rallied from a two-run deficit in the tournament opener against Bethany Lutheran College, thanks to a five-run six inning to win 6-4. Then after defeating Northwestern College in semifinals 4-1, the Saints faced the Eagles again in the championship game and fell behind 4-0 after two innings. However, once again in the sixth inning, the Saints used a four-run rally to get the past the Eagles and take the tournament crown 6-4. Senior
Jen Falk (Altona, Manitoba/W.C. Miller Collegiate (Rainy River CC)) dominated the tournament for the Saints, striking out 20 in two games, including 12 in the championship game. Falk also had the go-ahead doubles in both the BLC and Northwestern games.
St. Scholastica Saints (28-13, 19-2 UMAC)
The Saints are in the NCAA Regional Tournament for just the second time in program history with the first coming in 2006 … CSS got into the tournament by earning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference's first-ever automatic qualifier after winning the tournament title on Saturday … In their first NCAA Regional appearance in 2006, the Saints traveled to Indianola, Iowa and won its opening round game against 15th-ranked Washington University of St. Louis, before falling twice to No. 1-ranked University of St. Thomas and No. 8-ranked Wartburg College (Iowa) … The Saints are led offensively by sophomore catcher
Bonnie Kowalczyk (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls HS), who was named the UMAC Player of the Year … Kowalczyk, who was a third-team NFCA All-Region selection as a freshman, led the Saints for most of the season in batting (.443), on-base percentage (.512), slugging percentage (.717), and RBIs (34) … However, her most important attribute is her leadership behind the plate, catching the CSS pitching staff and directing the defense … She committed just three errors and caught a pitching staff that had a league-best 2.38 earned run average … For that, Kowalczyk was also named to the UMAC All-Defensive team for the second straight season … Another Saint to keep an eye on is 2010 UMAC Player of the Year, junior center fielder
Merryssa Tiedeman (Zumbrota, Minn/Zumbrota-Mazeppa HS) … Although Tiedeman did not put up nearly the numbers that she had as a sophomore, she still finished tied for the team-lead with five home runs and leading the team with 38 runs scored … She also drove in 28 runs and is excellent with the glove, being named to the All-UMAC Defensive Team for the second consecutive season … Junior third baseman has gotten hot at the plate towards the end of the season with all five of her home runs coming after April 21st … Also in that time she is batting .500 and drove in 24 runs … Tauer was a first team All-UMAC choice this season … Inside the circle, the Saints have been led by seniors
Jen Falk (Altona, Manitoba/W.C. Miller Collegiate (Rainy River CC)) and
Brittni Johnson (Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln HS (Northland CC)), along with sophomore
Darcy Roach (East Grand Forks, Minn./Sacred Heart HS) … Johnson and Falk have 2.32 and 2.31 ERAs, respectively, with Falk leading the team with 10 wins and 100 strikeouts … Roach is second on the team with 78 punch outs and eight victories.
Notable NCAA Leaders: Team: 10th in scoring per game (7.7), 5th in doubles per game (2.2), 6th in triples per game (0.5).
Luther College (Iowa) Norse (37-4, 14-2 IIAC)
Location: Decorah, Iowa
Conference: Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Notables: Luther, who is ranked fourth in the latest NFCA Division III top 25 poll, earned the Iowa Conference automatic berth to the national tournament after winning the league's conference tournament for the second time in as many years this past weekend … Luther will be making its 12th overall appearance in the national tournament, its third in a row and fourth in the past five years … The Norse finished in fifth place in last year's NCAA National Tournament … Luther is led on the rubber by Lexi Determan, who is 21-2 with a 0.89 ERA … At the plate Kelsey Weindruch has a team-high eight home runs and 40 RBIs.
Notable NCAA Leaders: Team: 4th in ERA (1.22), 9th in Fielding Pct. (.972), 8th in Doubles per game (2.12), 15th in Slugging Pct. (.526); Lexi Determan: 2nd in Shutouts (11), 8th in Victories (21), 9th in ERA (0.89).
Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. Luther: 0-2)
The Saints last met the Norse in 1995, falling 14-3. The other meeting took place in 1993 and the Norse also took that one 6-0.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons (26-13, 13-3 WIAC)
Location: River Falls, Wis.
Conference: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Notables: The Falcons earned the WIAC's automatic berth into the NCAA Championships by winning the league's tournament playoff with a perfect 4-0 record … This will be the first time since the 1994 season that the UWRF will be appearing the regional tournament … Ashley Goettl leads the team with eight home runs and 34 RBIs this season … Inside the circle, Rose Tusa is 19-6 with 217 strikeouts and a 1.49 ERA.
Notable NCAA Leaders: Rose Tusa: 6th in Strikeouts (217).
Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. UW-River Falls: 8-9)
The Falcons defeated the Saints 7-1 during the 2008 season. The only current Saint that played in that game was
Kayla Jenkins (Esko, Minn/Esko HS) and she pitched two innings. The Falcons have won the last five in the series.
University of St. Thomas Tommies (39-4, 22-0 MIAC)
Location: St. Paul, Minn.
Conference: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Notables: The Tommies, who are ranked 18th, have won 29 games in a row entering the regional … They got in by receiving the MIAC's automatic qualifier for winning the conference tournament over the weekend … This is the program's 14th NCAA appearance in 15 seasons … St. Thomas is led by senior All-American, who has a total of 53 RBIs … Emily Gregory is averaging an RBI in every hit this season with 41 RBIs and 41 hits, along with a team-high nine home runs … Biz Sitzmann leads the team with 17 wins, while Cassie Smith has a team-low 2.64 ERA.
Notable NCAA Leaders: Team: 7th in Batting average (.375), 6th in Scoring (8.1), 9th in Stolen Bases per game (2.88); Sydney Marquardt: 8th in Sacrifice flies (5); Biz Sitzmann: 24th in Victories (17).
Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. St. Thomas: 2-10)
The Tommies swept the Saints in three games during the 2006 season. Both of CSS's victories in the series were one-run contests.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagles (27-14, 11-5 WIAC)
Location: La Crosse, Wis.
Conference: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Notables: The Eagles, who are ranked 22nd, will be making their third straight appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament … The Eagles received an at-large berth and their 27 wins this season are tied for the third-most in program history … Jenna Ahnen leads the team with a .406 batting average and is 14-for-15 in stolen base attempts … Natalie Stoll has a team-high seven home runs and 27 RBIs … Lauren Beres leads the pitching staff with a 1.76 ERA and 13 victories.
Notable NCAA Leaders: Team: 14th in Fielding Pct. (.970); Kelsey Golackson: 8th in Sacrifice Hits per game (0.43); Lauren Beres: 9th in Walks Allowed per 7 innings (0.78).
Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. UW-La Crosse: 1-10)
The Saints and Eagles met to open this season in Rochester with the game being decided in 10 innings. The Eagles came out on top 2-1.
Jen Falk (Altona, Manitoba/W.C. Miller Collegiate (Rainy River CC)) struck out seven and allowed just four hits in the hard-luck loss.
Bonnie Kowalczyk (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls HS) was 4-for-4 at the plate.
North Central College (Ill.) Cardinals (26-12, 9-5 CCIW)
Location: Naperville, Ill.
Conference: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Notables: The Cardinals are in the NCAA Regional Tournament by way of earning the CCIW's automatic qualifier for winning the conference tournament over the weekend … This is the Cardinals 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the third in the last four years after making appearances in 2008 and 2010 … The Cardinals are led by Lauren Schramm at the plate, tied for a team-high with seven home runs and leading the squad with 45 RBIs … Vlasta Mangia leads the pitching staff with 45 strikeouts and a 2.17 earned run average.
Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. North Central: 0-1)
The only time the Saints and Cardinals got together was in Arizona last season with North Central prevailing 8-2.
Merryssa Tiedeman (Zumbrota, Minn/Zumbrota-Mazeppa HS) was 2-for-4 with a home run in the loss.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds (29-14, 9-7 WIAC)
Location: Eau Claire, Wis.
Conference: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Notables: The Blugolds were defeated in the WIAC Tournament championship game by UW-River Falls, but still received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament … The Blugolds were the 2009 NCAA Division III National Champions … Jess Freagon has a team-high eight home runs and 52 RBIs to pace the offense … Emma Wishau leads UWEC inside the circle with eight victories and 58 strikeouts.
Notable NCAA Leaders: Emily Ruegemer: 16th in Saves (3).
Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. UW-Eau Claire: 6-14)
The Blugolds came up to Duluth and defeated the Saints on April 13th 6-1.
Leah Hettwer (Andover, Minn./St. Francis HS) had the lone RBI for the Saints in the loss.
Ripon College (Wis.) Red Hawks (24-8, 10-3 MWC)
Location: Ripon, Wis.
Conference: Midwest Conference
Notables: The Red Hawks will be in their second-ever NCAA Regional Tournament after winning the Midwest Conference's automatic bid for winning the postseason tournament … Ripon's first appearance was back in 2008 … The 24 wins are just two shy from the program record … They have already set school records for most home runs (15) and most stolen bases (62) in a season … Alli Jensen leads the team with a .402 batting average and 32 runs batted in … Pitchers Stephanie Rieuwpassa and Brittnie Peotter have each struck out over 120 batters this season and have a combined ERA of 1.85.
Notable NCAA Leaders: Stephanie Rieuwpassa: 17th in ERA (1.18); Meaghan Boswell: 18th in Sacrifice Hits per Game (0.38).
Last Meeting: (CSS All-Time Record vs. Ripon: 1-0)
This will be the first ever meeting between the Saints and Red Hawks took place earlier this season in Florida over spring break. The Saints won 6-3, handing Ripon its first loss of the season.
Darcy Roach (East Grand Forks, Minn./Sacred Heart HS) allowed just five hits to pick up the win.
