Notables
-CSS out-hit UWO 14-7 and 7-6 in game one and two, respectively
-First back-to-back extra-inning wins since 2014
-CSS has won five straight against the Titans
-Wollenzien has had at least one hit in five of the last six games
-Zwak extends hitting streak to seven games
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica baseball team had its home opener on Saturday in a doubleheader matchup versus the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, when it put the bat on ball late in each of the two games to earn a 5-4 and a 4-3 victory.
Game 1: CSS 5, UWO 4 (F/10)
Game one proved to be a nail biter of a contest, with the Saints giving up two runs in the top of the ninth to tie the score at 4-4. Ultimately the Saints took the 5-4 victory, thanks to a walk-off single from Joey Zwak (Duluth, Minn. /Duluth East HS ) in the bottom of the 10th inning.
The Saints fell behind 1-0 in the first inning of play, then in the fifth allowed one more run from Oshkosh to make the score 2-0. In the bottom of the fifth, however, the Saints found their groove and pulled in four runs. The inning began with singles from Zwak and Trevor Bernsdorf (Elmer, Minn./Floodwood HS ) to put two men on base. A sacrifice bunt from Riley Bernsdorf (Meadowlands, Minn. /Floodwood HS) advanced the runners to second and third. A grounder in the infield by Drew Colvard (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS ) scored Zwak to put the Saints on the board. A single from Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn. /Champlin Park HS ), then an extra base hit down the right field line from Tyler Duex (Bloomer, Wis./Chippewa Falls HS (UW-Superior) ) pushed another runner across the plate to tie the score at two. With men on second and third, a two RBI single from Brian Minks (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS ) pushed the Saints lead to 4-2.
That score would not change until the top of the ninth, when UWO managed to put up two runs, tying the score at 4-4. The Saints would not find a way in the bottom of the ninth, forcing the game into extra innings. The top of the 10th inning saw no luck for Oshkosh. Duex was up first what would be the Saints' last round of at bats of the game. He reached on an error, then was advanced to second by a Minks single. The next two batters for CSS couldn't find a way to move up the runners, which got Zwak to the plate with two outs and two men on. On the second pitch of his at bat, Zwak pounded one through the infield for the walk-off single, earning the Saints the 5-4 victory.
Joe Gonrowski (Elk River, Minn./Elk River HS ) took the "W" for the Saints, coming in for the final two innings of the game after a commendable performance by Grant Rindal (Superior, Wis./Superior HS ) in the first eight. Minks led the offense, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Game 2: CSS 4, UWO 3
The second game required another late inning push from the Saints, who scored early on and then fell behind in the middle innings before managing a three-run eighth to gain the 4-3 lead for the win.
Zwak kept his hot bat going, earning the first hit of game two for CSS with a double down the left field line in the first inning. He then advanced to second on a passed ball, and a single from Steven Neutzling (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral ) got Zwak across the plate to give the Saints an early 1-0 lead.
Things slowed down offensively for CSS after that, to the good fortune of UWO. Oshkosh took one run in the third, then another in the fourth to make the score 2-1. A third run in the sixth gave UWO a two-run lead with a 3-1 score. The eighth inning rolled around, and the Saints got the bats going again. Duex doubled to lead off, then Minks followed up with a bomb to right center for an RBI triple, scoring Duex. Oshkosh made a pitching change, but the Saints had their momentum going and would not be stopped. An RBI single from Conor Wollenzien (North Mankato, Minn. /Mankato West HS) scored Minks to tie the score at 3-3. In the next at bat, a fielder's choice off of Munn's bat got Wollenzien out at second, but allowed Munn to reach first. R. Bernsdorf doubled down the right field line, which advanced Munn, the go-ahead run, all the way around to make the score 4-3 in favor of CSS. Oshkosh found no success in the top of the ninth, giving the Saints the victory.
Ben Christofferson (Maple Grove, Minn. /Osseo HS) started on the mound for CSS, playing five innings and earning a strikeout. Jordan Thompson (Montevideo, Minn. /Montevideo HS (Ridgewater CC) ) came in for 2.2 innings, followed by Jake Turner (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS ) who finished out the final 1.1 innings to earn the win for the Saints. Zwak went 2-for-4 for CSS. Minks, Neutzling, Wollenzien, and R. Bernsdorf all had RBIs for the Saints.
Up Next
The Saints (9-6) are back in action tomorrow when they take on No. 11 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at Wade Stadium in another doubleheader. The first game is set to begin at 1 p.m, followed immediately after by game two.
