Notables
-The Saints haven't lost a game in the UMAC tournament since 2010
-CSS turned four double-plays in the victory
-Neutzling ends his reached base safely (hit, walk, HBP) streak at 65 games, the third-longest in NCAA Division III history
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica baseball team scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie to defeat Bethany Lutheran College 4-2 on Friday at Wade Stadium in the second day of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament to earn a spot in Saturday's championship game. CSS will have a rematch with the Vikings in tomorrow's championship after Bethany defeated the University of Northwestern (Minn.) with a walk-off single.
The Action
CSS' defense started out the game strongly,
Dan Hansen (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Park Center HS), who made his first start since April 11, struck out the first batter, and induced a double play with runners at the corners to end the inning.
Drew Colvard (Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS) opened the scoring for the Saints in the bottom of the first. After stealing second, Colvard advanced to third after
Joey Zwak (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) grounded out.
Aaron Weber (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Pierz HS) then singled to right field, allowing Colvard to score. CSS added a second after
Steven Neutzling (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) scored from second base off a single by
Brad Fossum (Sturgeon Lake, Minn./Moose Lake HS (Concordia-St. Paul)) to take a 2-0 lead.
It remained 2-0 until the fourth when Kevin Harris hit a single for the Vikings, allowing runners at second a third to score, tying the game at 2-2. After recording a pair of hits in the first inning, the Saints would not get another hit until the fifth inning.
With the game still tied at 2-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, Weber advanced to first after getting hit by a pitch to begin the frame. Fossum then stepped up and hit a triple down the right field line, allowing Weber to score and the Saints to take a 3-2 lead.
Chris Olson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) then doubled to right center, allowing Fossum to score to make it 4-2.
CSS was then able to shut out the Vikings in the final inning of the game.
Joe Gonrowski (Elk River, Minn./Elk River HS), who entered the game in the fifth inning, struck out the first batter and then two batters later got the Vikings to ground out in their fourth double play of the contest to end it 4-2.
Top Performances
Gonrowski won the game on the mound for the Saints, pitching the final five innings, striking out five and allowing just three hits. Fossum led the Saints in RBIs with two. Colvard was 2-for-2 with a run scored.
Cole Tyman (Elk Mound, Wis./Elk Mound HS) also had a pair of hits.
Up Next
The Saints (22-9) will face Bethany Lutheran again in tomorrow's championship game. Bethany will have to beat the Saints twice. The first championship game begins at 1 p.m.
