Notables-First-ever meeting between the two teams in the postseason-Saints are now 2-8 in regional play against host institutions-Duex had three hits for the CSS, but the left the game early due to injury-Ciernia had two RBIs
LA CROSSE, Wis. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica baseball team gave up six runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth as No. 20 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse pulled away for the 10-3 victory Wednesday night on the first day of the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Copeland Park.
The Saints got the offense going early as
Al Marolt (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) was hit by a pitch and then
Trevor Bernsdorf (Meadowlands, Minn./Floodwood HS (Doane) ) and
Tyler Duex (Bloomer, Wis./Chippewa Falls HS (UW-Superior) ) each hit back-to-back singles with the latter bringing in Marolt. CSS loaded the bases with one out, but a double play ended the inning.
After stranding five runners in the first two innings, the Eagles broke through in the third, scoring their first on a CSS throwing error and then adding another on a groundout to take a 2-1 lead.
The Saints loaded the bases in the fourth and
Jordan Risse (Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington HS ) gave it a ride to deep left field, but not deep enough as La Crosse got out of a jam.
The Eagles added two more runs in the fifth with the first coming on a Ben Morgan solo home run to extend their lead to 4-1.
Shayne Ciernia (Eagan, Minn./Breck HS ) drove in Duex in the top of the sixth to cut the margin to 4-2. Ciernia delivered another RBI single in the eighth bringing in pinch runner
Seth Anderson (Robbinsdale, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper HS ) to make it 4-3. However, the Saints stranded the tying run on second.
The bottom frame saw the Saints record two quick outs, however it came unglued from then on. A walk led things off and that was followed by an infield single, a hit by pitch, two more singles and double which in the end totaled six Eagle runs to put the game out of reach as La Crosse prevailed 10-3.
Padraic Getchell (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS (North Dakota) ) picked up the loss as he struck out five in five innings. Joe Miller earned the win for the Eagles. Duex was 3-for-4 at the plate with a RBI and a run scored. La Crosse had the edge in hits 10-9.
The Saints (32-12) will face Concordia University-Chicago tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. in an elimination game. Concordia lost to Washington University-St. Louis 2-0 earlier in the day. All of the action can be heard live on Saints Sports Net.
