Notables
-CSS left 10 runners on base and stranded 19 for the tournament
-The Saints had a base runner every inning
-Fuerniss was 3-for-3 in his final collegiate game
-Girtz ended the season on a 13-game hitting streak
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica baseball team never led in two games of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament as the top-seeded Saints were eliminated by the University of Northwestern on Friday by a final of 6-2 at Wade Stadium.
How it Happened
The Eagles (24-16) were able to load the bases with no outs in the second inning and pushed two runs across to take an early lead.
The best offensive threat for the Saints came in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. However, they would only get one run across on an
Aaron Weber (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Pierz HS) sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
Northwestern extended its lead in the sixth inning. In what could have been a spectacular inning-ending diving catch by centerfielder
Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS), it was ruled that the ball hit the ground. The next batter then drove in a run to make it 3-1.
CSS made it a one-run game again in the seventh when
Lane Girtz (Pierz, Minn./Pierz Healy HS) scored on a
Conor Wollenzien (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS) RBI groundout.
James Fuerniss (Lonsdale, Minn./New Prague HS) doubled with one out in the eighth to put the tying run at second base. However, the next two batters were retired to end the threat.
The Eagles added pivotal insurance in the ninth, plating three runs with two outs to make it 6-2. After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth, the next three Saints flew out to end game and their season by a final of 6-2.
Top Performers
Fuerniss was 3-for-3 at the plate and was the only Saint with multiple hits.
Bradley Spencer drove in three runs for Northwestern and also earned the save.
End of Season
The Saints end their season with an overall record of 24-14. CSS will say goodbye to a senior class of eight individuals in
Drew Sathrum (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS),
Conor Wollenzien (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS),
Brad Fossum (Sturgeon Lake, Minn./Moose Lake HS (Concordia-St. Paul)),
Isaac Rocha (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna HS),
James Fuerniss (Lonsdale, Minn./New Prague HS),
Tim Munn (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS),
Ben Christofferson (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo HS) and
Aidan Zurn (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS).
For future information on the St. Scholastica baseball team, keep checking csssaints.com.
