Notables
-First back-to-back shutouts in a doubleheader since 2012
-Rindal has allowed only four hits and one run in 13 innings this season
-CSS outhit McDaniel 12-2 in game one
-Christofferson and Rindal both get their first starts of the season
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica baseball team recorded its second and third victories of the season in the doubleheader against McDaniel College (Md.) on Thursday, winning 7-0 and 6-0 in game one and game two, respectively.
Game 1: CSS 7, McDaniel 0
The Saints had 12 hits in the 7-0 victory against the Green Terror. The first and second innings saw almost no action. It wasn't until the third inning when the Saints got their first run. A grounder from Tyler Duex (Bloomer, Wis./Chippewa Falls HS (UW-Superior) ) scored Braydon Hanson (Monticello, Minn. /Monticello HS (UW-Whitewater) ), on base thanks to a single to center field, to make the score 1-0. The fourth and fifth innings passed quickly with only two hits coming between both teams, both from CSS.
In the top of the sixth, Steven Neutzling (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral ) got on base, courtesy of a catcher interference error on the Green Terror. A single from Trevor Bernsdorf (Elmer, Minn./Floodwood HS ) through the left side advanced Neutzling to third. Conor Wollenzien (North Mankato, Minn. /Mankato West HS) then followed up with a double to left field for the RBI to push the Saints lead to two runs.
The final inning of the game was a valuable one for the Saints, who scored five runs in the final three outs, making it all the way through the lineup while at bat. Drew Colvard (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS ) started things off for the Saints with a walk, then forced a catcher error on a stolen base attempt, which advanced him to third before the Saints had even a single hit in the inning. Duex, Neutzling, and Wollenzien were all credited with RBIs. The bottom of the seventh was one, two, three for the Saints defense, giving them the 7-0 victory.
Grant Rindal (Superior, Wis./Superior HS ) pitched the win for the Saints in his first start of the season. He allowed two hits and struck out six to earn the complete game shutout. On offense for CSS, T. Bernsdorf went 3-for-4, Neutzling went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Wollenzien went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Game 2: CSS 6, McDaniel 0
The second game saw more success from CSS with scoring plays that were a bit more spread out than in game one to end in a 6-0 win for the Saints.
The third inning saw the first scoring action, starting with a single from Michael Grove (Forest Lake, Minn./Edina HS ). The pitcher for the Green Terror had a bit of trouble, balking to send Grove to second, followed by a walk to Joey Zwak (Duluth, Minn. /Duluth East HS ). The pitched then balked once more to put Saints runners on second and third with only one out. A passed ball allowed Grove to score for the run of the inning, making the score 1-0.
The Saints extended their lead in the fourth, with RBIs going to Wollenzien on a triple and to Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn. /Champlin Park HS ) on a sacrifice fly to center field, pushing the score to 3-0. The final three runs for CSS came in the sixth inning on hits from Munn, Colvard, and Zwak, all credited with RBIs during the inning to give the game its final score of 6-0.
Ben Christofferson (Maple Grove, Minn. /Osseo HS) got the win for CSS after pitching a successful full four innings, allowing three hits and striking out two. Joe Gonrowski (Elk River, Minn./Elk River HS ) took the final three innings to get the save. Gonrowski struck out four in the three innings. Munn went 1-for-2 during the game with two RBIs.
Up Next
The Saints (3-4) continue their spring trip tomorrow when they take on Rowan University (N.J) in another doubleheader matchup. The start time is set for 9:30 a.m. (ET) in Auburndale, Florida.
