Notables
-CSS is ranked No. 3 in Central Region by the NCAA
-Saints went into the doubleheader having won 15 of the last 16 games
-Zwak extends hitting streak to 13
-Minks becomes second Saint to have at least 50 doubles, 10 triples, 10 homers in a career
-Neutzling's eight home runs are the most by a Saint in a season since 2008
ST. PAUL, Minn. (csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica baseball team took on conference rival University of Northwestern (Minn.) on Saturday, winning both games with ease with scores of 17-0 and 16-3 in game one and game two respectively.
Game 1: CSS 17, UNW 0 (F/7)
The Saints used a 15-run fifth inning to propel their way past the Eagles for the 17-0 victory, outhitting UNW 17-4 in the seven innings played. Neither team scored a run until the fourth inning, when CSS got on the board thanks to a single from Riley Bernsdorf (Meadowlands, Minn. /Floodwood HS), which scored Steven Neutzling (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral ) who made it on base with a lead off double.
The fifth inning was the big one for the CSS offense, which put up 12 hits. Joey Zwak (Duluth, Minn. /Duluth East HS ) was hit by a pitch to start the inning off, then made it to third on a double from Tyler Duex (Bloomer, Wis./Chippewa Falls HS (UW-Superior) ). Brian Minks (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS ) walked to load the bases, then Neutzling put the ball in play on his at bat and reached on a fielder's choice to earn the RBI for the second run of the game. A two RBI single from Conor Wollenzien (North Mankato, Minn. /Mankato West HS) made the score 4-0. R. Bernsdorf collected an RBI on a single up the middle, then he and Wollenzien advanced on a wild pitch to put runners on second and third. Trevor Bernsdorf (Elmer, Minn./Floodwood HS ) stepped up next and scored two with a single. The Eagles opted to make a pitching change, but the Saints kept rolling. Michael Grove (Forest Lake, Minn./Edina HS ) got on base with a walk, then Andrew Colvard laid down a bunt for a hit to load the bases. Zwak, in his second at bat of the inning, hit for a double to earn two RBIs, making the score 9-0. Duex also collected two RBIs in his at bat with a single, followed by a single from Minks. Neutzling pounded a homer to score three, putting the Saints up 14-0. Wollenzien and R. Bernsdorf both got on, the Grove pushed them home with a single to right field for the final two runs of the inning, finishing with a score of 16-0.
The final run of the game came in the seventh inning for CSS. Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn. /Champlin Park HS ) was beaned to make it on base to lead things off, then Grove was also hit in the next at bat. Drew Sathrum (Kenyon, Minn. /Kenyon-Wanamingo HS ) took a walk to load the bases, then a ground ball from Braydon Hanson (Monticello, Minn. /Monticello HS (UW-Whitewater) ) scored Munn to give the game its final score of 17-0.
Martin Alcoverde (Tucson, Ariz. /Sahuarita HS (Mesabi Range CC)) got the win for CSS, pitching five innings and striking out nine batters. Jordan Thompson (Montevideo, Minn. /Montevideo HS (Ridgewater CC) ) stepped in for the final two innings and struck out one. Neutzling led the way at the plate with four RBIs, going 2-for-4. The Saints had six players with two RBIs during the game: Zwak, Duex, Wollenzien, R. Bernsdorf, T. Bernsdorf, and Grove.
Game 2: CSS 16, UNW 3 (F/7)
CSS allowed the Eagles a few runs in game two, falling behind after a successful third inning by UNW, but ultimately took the 16-3 victory after a strong push in the later innings. CSS got on the board first with a run in the second inning with the RBI going to T. Bernsdorf. The Eagles answered in the third inning with three runs to take their first and only lead of the game with a score of 3-1.
Two runs for the Saints in the top of the fourth tied things up at 3-3. Minks and Neutzling walked to start the inning, then Eric Pearson (Champlin, Minn. /Champlin Park HS ) singled for one RBI, advancing to second on the throw. T. Bernsdorf walked in his at bat to fill the bases. Colvard walked, the fourth of the inning, for the RBI and the final run that tied the score.
The Saints kept the bats going in the fifth inning with Duex hitting for a single in the lead off spot. Minks followed up with a single of his own, then Neutzling cleaned up with his second three-run home run of the day. Two consecutive walks put Wollenzien and R. Bernsdorf on base, which allowed a single from Pearson to score one run. A sac fly to centerfield from T. Bernsdorf made it 8-3 in favor of CSS. Colvard made it all the way to third on an error during his at bat, and the error also allowed Pearson to score. Colvard scored on a single from Zwak, then Duex got on base with a single. A wild pitch advanced the runners, then a ground ball put in play by Minks for the final run of the inning, putting the Saints up 11-3.
CSS put up five more runs in the top of the sixth. A lead off home run from Wollenzien started the inning for the Saints. R. Bernsdorf doubled, followed by a walk from T. Bernsdorf. Zwak walked to put three men on, the Duex walked for an RBI. Minks stepped up to the plate and popped a two RBI milestone double, making him the second Saint in history to record at least 50 doubles, 10 triples and 10 home runs in a career. This served as the final scoring play of the game and made the score 16-3.
Grant Rindal (Superior, Wis./Superior HS ) started things off for CSS on the mound, pitching four innings and striking out six. Joe Gonrowski (Elk River, Minn./Elk River HS ) stepped in for two innings and struck out two, then Isaac Rocha (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna HS) finished things off in the final inning with two strikeouts of his own. Minks and Neutzling both had three RBIs. Minks, R. Bernsdorf, Duex and Pearson all went 2-for-4.
Up Next
The Saints (23-7, 12-0 UMAC) are back at it on Monday when they take on Carleton College in Northfield. The first pitch is set for 12 p.m.
