bb051917
2
Winner St. Scholastica CSS 33-9
0
St. Norbert SNC 30-13
Winner
St. Scholastica CSS
33-9
2
Final
0
St. Norbert SNC
30-13
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
St. Scholastica CSS 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 1
St. Norbert SNC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

W: Alcoverde, Martin (8-1) L: Jason Malkowski (6-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Alcoverde Pitches Saints Past St. Norbert

Notables
-First complete-game shutout by a CSS pitcher in a NCAA Tournament game
-Alcoverde's 13 strikeouts the most by a CSS pitcher in a NCAA postseason game
-Second-ever meeting vs. SNC, both in the postseason (2-0)
-Duex 3-for-4 at the plate
 
WHITEWATER, Wis. (csssaints.com) – Senior Martin Alcoverde (Tucson, Ariz. /Sahuarita HS (Mesabi Range CC)) matched a career-high with 13 strikeouts to lead the No. 23 St. Scholastica baseball team to a 2-0 victory over St. Norbert College (Wis.) on Friday in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional in chilly and damp Whitewater.
 
The Action
With game time feels like temperatures below 40 degrees, the Saints got the bats heated up early. Tyler Duex (Bloomer, Wis./Chippewa Falls HS (UW-Superior) ) hit a one double to left center and that was followed by a Brian Minks (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS ) single that brought home Duex to give the Saints an early 1-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the first, the Green Knights loaded the bases with two outs. Alcoverde, however, recorded his second strikeout of the inning to get out of the jam.
 
It remained 1-0 until the top of the fourth. That's when the rains came and did not let up the rest of the game. Steven Neutzling (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral ) would steal second with two outs. Following a walk, Trevor Bernsdorf (Elmer, Minn./Floodwood HS ) hit a shallow fly to right where the ball landed just out of the glove of the fielder, which allowed Neutzling to score and make it 2-0 CSS. The Saints loaded the bases in the inning, but could not add on to their lead.
 
Alcoverde allowed a leadoff single in the fifth and then would be called for a balk. After the call, he proceeded to strikeout the next three hitters to end the inning. Then St. Norbert would get a two-out rally going in the sixth thanks to a CSS error and two walks to load the bases. However, Alcoverde again recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
 
Moving to the ninth, St. Scholastica looked to add insurance in the top half. T. Bernsdorf hit a one-out double. Following a walk and a second out, Duex had a base hit to right field, but Bernsdorf would be thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
 
Alcoverde returned to the mound in the bottom of the ninth looking to close things out. The Green Knights began with a leadoff single. Alcoverde struck out his 12th batter of the game for the first out. He then got the next guy to pop out to center. With a full count and the tying run at the plate, he recorded his 13th strikeout of the contest to keep the Saints alive with a 2-0 victory.
 
Alcoverde's Performance
Alcoverde pitched his second complete-game shutout of the season, allowing only five hits. It is the first complete-game shutout by a CSS pitcher in a NCAA Tournament game in program history. It is also Alcoverde's second complete-game in as many years at a NCAA Regional as he did not allow an earned run against Beloit College (Wis.) last year in La Crosse. The 13 strikeouts are the most by a CSS pitcher in NCAA Tournament history.
 
Top Offensive Performers
Duex was 3-for-4 at the plate to pace St. Scholastica's 10-hit attack. Eric Pearson (Champlin, Minn. /Champlin Park HS ), Drew Colvard (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS ) and T. Bernsdorf each added two hits apiece. Neutzling reached base safely for the 33rd straight game.
 
Up Next
The Saints (32-9) will face the loser of tonight's contest between Concordia University-Chicago (Ill.) and Adrian College (Mich.). That game is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Saturday. The action can be heard live on Saints Sports Net.
 
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