Notables
-CSS has not lost a game since March 29 (versus #4 UW-Whitewater)
-Saints remain undefeated (6-0) in the UMAC
-R. Bernsdorf extends hit streak to 14 games, Minks at 12 games
-Saints improve to 4-0 in extra inning games
-CSS has out-hit opponent in each of the last 12 games
MANKATO, Minn. (csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica baseball team swept Bethany Lutheran College on Thursday, winning 13-2 in the first game, then cutting it close in the second, winning 1-0 in extra innings.
Game 1: CSS 13, BLC 2 (F/8)
The Saints surged ahead of the Vikings with a six-run fifth inning and outhitting BLC 13-9 in game one to earn the 13-2 victory and extending their win streak to 10.
The first runs for CSS came in the second inning after Riley Bernsdorf (Meadowlands, Minn. /Floodwood HS) walked, followed by a single from Trevor Bernsdorf (Elmer, Minn./Floodwood HS ), to put two men on base. An error on the next play from the first basemen allowed Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn. /Champlin Park HS ) to reach and scored R. Bernsdorf to make the score 1-0. Drew Colvard (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS ) moved the runners up with a successful bunt, then a sacrifice fly to center field from Joey Zwak (Duluth, Minn. /Duluth East HS ) scored T. Bernsdorf to put the Saints up by two.
The Vikings found success in the bottom of the third, scoring one run to keep the game close at 2-1. The fourth inning was quiet for both teams, then the Saints made their move in the fifth to secure the lead with six runs. Tyler Duex (Bloomer, Wis./Chippewa Falls HS (UW-Superior) ) led off with a solo homer. A single put Brian Minks (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS ) on base, and he then advanced to second on a wild pitch. An RBI double from Conor Wollenzien (North Mankato, Minn. /Mankato West HS) scored Minks to make the score 4-1. Wollenzien advanced to third off a R. Bernsdorf single, then scored on a sac fly from T. Bernsdorf. The Saints then loaded the bases on a hit from Munn and a walk from Colvard. A wild pitch scored one and moved the runners up, then a two RBI single from Zwak pushed Colvard and Munn across the plate to give the fifth inning its final run, making the score 8-1.
The bottom of the fifth was one-two-three for the Saints defense, then CSS came back and scored two more runs in the top of the sixth. Minks and Steven Neutzling (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral ) made it on base with two consecutive walks, and both of them scored on a double from R. Bernsdorf to make the score 10-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Vikings managed one more run, taking advantage of a walk and an error by the Saints, but the lead was still out of reach for BLC, especially after CSS pulled in three more runs in what would be the final inning. Two of the runs came on a home run from Neutzling, scoring himself and Minks, who got on base on a walk. The third RBI of the inning came from Colvard, who singled to score R. Bernsdorf who also got on base with a walk. The Vikings could not get anything going in the bottom of the inning, and the game ended in eight with a 13-2 score.
On the mound for CSS was Grant Rindal (Superior, Wis./Superior HS ), who threw six full innings, allowing only one run and earning four strikeouts. Jake Turner (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS ) came in on relief to finish out the game and he earned a strikeout of his own. R. Bernsdorf went 2-for-3 and collected two RBIs. Zwak was credited with a season high of three RBIs.
Game 2: CSS 1, BLC 0 (F/10)
The Saints were not as quick to score in the second game of the doubleheader matchup, and the Vikings found no luck either. A home run in the top of the 10th by Minks gave CSS the single run that would be enough to propel them past BLC.
Throughout the game, the Saints recorded 10 hits and left eight men on base. The Vikings only managed five hits and left all five runners on base. Duex went 3-for-3 during the game, and Michael Grove (Forest Lake, Minn./Edina HS ) went 2-for-3. Minks had the only RBI of the game with the home run in extras to put the Saints up 1-0 in the 10th. Jacob Dzubay (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS (Butler) ) starting on the mound for CSS and pitched the first four innings. Martin Alcoverde (Tucson, Ariz. /Sahuarita HS (Mesabi Range CC)) came in for six outs, earning two strikeouts in the process. Joe Gonrowski (Elk River, Minn./Elk River HS ) finished things off for the Saints and earned the win with four strikeouts and no allowed hits.
Up Next
The Saints (17-6, 6-0 UMAC) get back on the field next Wednesday, in a doubleheader bridge battle against University of Wisconsin-Superior at Wade Stadium. Game one is set to begin at 4 p.m.
