Notables
-St. Scholastica's 15-game win streak comes to an end
-CSS out-hit (10-7) for the first time in 16 games
-CSS is now 2-5 all-time against Saint John's with its last win coming in 2004
-Zwak extends hitting streak to 12 games
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The College of St. Scholastica baseball team scored all four of its runs in the last two innings Sunday afternoon against Saint John's University, but fell short of a complete comeback as the 15-game win streak was snapped after a 6-4 loss to the Johnnies.
The Action
It was a rather quiet start to the game as the first two innings displayed great pitching and defensive play from both teams to keep it scoreless heading into the third. The Johnnies struck first in the bottom of the third inning, putting together a three-run effort after a RBI double and a pair of sacrifice flies.
The Saints were held in check yet again in the top of the fourth, going down in order to keep momentum in favor of the Johnnies. Saint John's then tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning themselves, the first coming off of a ground ball fielder's choice and the second on another sacrifice fly by third baseman Derek Schiebel.
There would then be a three-inning drought as neither team could scrape across a run.
Sam Sorenson (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS ) pitched well in relief, going one and two-thirds innings without giving up a run. He then handed the ball over to teammate
Joe Gonrowski (Elk River, Minn./Elk River HS ), who closed out the bottom of the seventh inning to keep the game 5-0.
The Saints scored their first run in the top of the eighth inning after
Tyler Duex (Bloomer, Wis./Chippewa Falls HS (UW-Superior) ) flew out to center field, allowing
Drew Colvard (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS ) to tag from third base after he doubled to start the inning off. The momentum was short lived, however, as the Johnnies scored one in the bottom of the same inning after Gonrowski walked Schiebel with the bases loaded. CSS was able to get out of the bases-loaded jam after the walk, making the score 6-1 heading into the ninth inning.
The Saints put their rally caps on for a last-chance effort during the top of the ninth, and the magic almost happened.
Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn. /Champlin Park HS ) brought the Saints to within three after hitting a double to left center that scored both
Conor Wollenzien (North Mankato, Minn. /Mankato West HS) and
Steven Neutzling (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral ). Later that inning, with the bases loaded,
Joey Zwak (Duluth, Minn. /Duluth East HS ) grounded into a fielder's choice that scored
Riley Bernsdorf (Meadowlands, Minn. /Floodwood HS) to make the game 6-4. A ground ball to second with two outs would wipe any chance of a comeback, however, as the Saints couldn't quite put together the five-run inning they were hoping for.
Munn led the way for the Saints in the RBI column with two, followed by Zwak and Duex who each recorded one of their own.
Jacob Dzubay (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS (Butler) ) picked up the loss for the Saints after three innings on the mound and on the flip side it was Cameron Jurek of Saint John's (22-8) picking up the win.
Up Next
The Saints (21-7) will now head to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for a pair of games on Wednesday. The first pitch will be thrown at 1 p.m.
