Notables
-CSS has stranded 41 runners on base the last three games
-Neutzling extends reached base streak to 46 games
-Neutzling was 5-for-8 in the doubleheader
-Colvard extends hit streak to 14 games
LA CROSSE, Wis. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica baseball team battled region rival University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday, but were on the short end of a pair of losses at Copeland Park.
Game 1: UWL 6, CSS 4
The story in the first game of the day was missed opportunities by the Saints. St. Scholastica would strand 12 runners on base for the game, including leaving the bases loaded in the first, third and fifth innings.
The Eagles (8-5) got on the Saints early in the bottom of the first as the second batter came up and hit a two-run home run. After La Crosse failed to score with the faces loaded in the fourth,
Joey Zwak (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) led off the fifth with a solo home run to make it 2-1. However, the Saints failed to add on by stranding the bases loaded later in the inning.
The Eagles hit another two-run home run in the sixth to extend the lead to 4-1. Now down 6-1, CSS put a rally together in the eighth with a RBI single by
Drew Colvard (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS) to bring in
Riley Bernsdorf (Meadowlands, Minn./Floodwood HS).
Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) also scored on a La Crosse error on the play. Two batters later,
Conor Wollenzien (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS) doubled to plate Colvard and make it 6-4.
However, that ended up being the final score. Of the 12 runners left on for the Saints, nine of which were in scoring position.
Dan Hansen (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Park Center HS) struck out four in six innings in the loss. Caleb Willems earned the win in relief for the Eagles. St. Scholastica had nine hits with seven coming from the first four hitters in the lineup. Colvard, Zwak and
Steven Neutzling (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) all recorded two hits. Eight of the nine La Crosse hitters picked up at least one hit.
Game 2: UWL 14, CSS 11
The nightcap saw the Saints rally from a 12-2 deficit entering the seventh inning to get within two runs, but ultimately fall by a final of 14-11.
The Eagles scored four runs in the second, two in the third and then five more in fifth to build an 11-1 lead. Neutzling hit a home run in the sixth to get the margin back below 10. However, La Crosse responded with a run in the bottom frame to get it back to 10. That meant the Saints needed to push a run across in the seventh or the game would end by mercy-rule.
St. Scholastica did more than score a run.
Braydon Hanson (Monticello, Minn./Monticello HS (UW-Whitewater)) scored on a one-out fielder's choice to keep the Saints alive. Then with two outs, seven more Saints came across home plate to make it 12-10. Wollenzien had a RBI single.
Chris Olson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS),
Eric Pearson (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) and
Bobby Eckert (Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS (Century CC)) all drew bases loaded walks.
Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) had a two-run double to cut the La Crosse lead to two.
The Eagles added some breathing room in the eighth with a two-run single to make it 14-10. Pearson had a RBI single in the ninth to cut it to 14-11. CSS then brought the tying run to the plate with no outs, but three consecutive Saints would go down swinging to end the game.
Matt Tautges (Fort Ripley, Minn./Pierz HS) had the loss for the Saints. The eight pitchers that saw action for both teams gave up at least one earned run.
Neutzling was 3-for-5 with a home run. Wollenzien was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Mitch Sutton scored five times for the Eagles.
Up Next:
The Saints (6-5) have a doubleheader at Gustavus Adolphus College next Friday. First game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
