Notables
-CSS is ranked No. 22 in the D3baseball.com poll and No. 11 in the ABCA poll
-Webster is ranked No. 27 in the ABCA poll
-Pearson had two of CSS' five hits
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica baseball team was shut down for eight innings, trailing Webster University (Mo.) 6-0, but was able to bring the go-ahead run to the plate before ultimately falling 6-3 on Thursday.
Gorloks in Control
The Gorloks (8-2) got a two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Webster added three more runs with two outs in the fourth to extend its lead to 5-0.
Offensively, the Saints were hitless through five innings until
Joey Zwak (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) hit a one-out double in the sixth. He would be stranded at third base in the inning. The Gorloks made it 6-0 in the bottom frame on a squeeze bunt.
Saints Rally
It remained 6-0 until the top of the ninth. With one out,
Conor Wollenzien (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS) walked.
Steven Neutzling (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) followed with a double to put runners at second and third. Another double by
Eric Pearson (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) scored both Wollenzien and Neutzling to make it 6-2.
After a pitching change,
Riley Bernsdorf (Meadowlands, Minn./Floodwood HS) reached on a Webster error. Now with two outs,
Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) drew a walk to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate.
Drew Colvard (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS) hit an infield single to bring in Pearson making it 6-3 and putting the tying run at first and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Unfortunately, the Saints would ground out to end it.
Pitching
Freshman
Dallas Miller (Big Lake, Minn./Big Lake HS) made his first collegiate start for CSS and struck out six in 5.1 innings.
Jake Turner (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) allowed only one hit and struck out three in 2.2 innings of relief. Matt Mulhearn struck out seven in seven innings to earn the victory.
Up Next:
The Saints (5-1) are back in action tomorrow when they face No. 1-ranked UMass Boston in Auburndale, Florida at 1:15 p.m. (ET).