Notables
-Olson records career-high three hits and four RBIs
-Zwak has a hit in each of the first six games this season and has a nine-game hit streak dating back to last season
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica baseball team broke a 4-4 tie with a run in the seventh and then three more in the eighth to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) 8-4 on Sunday for its first win at the RussMatt Invitational.
How It Happened
Joey Zwak (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) put the Saints on the board with a RBI single in the third inning to bring in
Mitchell Novak (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS). After an Engineer error,
Aaron Weber (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Pierz HS) hit a sacrifice fly to score
Lane Girtz (Pierz, Minn./Pierz Healy HS). Then
Mitchell Olson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) delivered a two-run single to make it 4-0.
RPI (1-1) threatened in the fifth inning, but Weber would cut down the runner at the plate for a fly out-throw out double play to end the inning. With the score still 4-0 CSS, the Engineers got things going in the seventh with three consecutive one-out hits to cut the margin to 4-1. A two-out, two-run double followed to put the score at 4-3. A St. Scholastica then allowed another run to score to tie the contest at 4-4.
Zwak led off the bottom of the seventh with a bunt single. After he was sacrificed to second and then moved over to third on a fly out, a RPI error allowed Zwak to score to give the lead back to the Saints at 5-4.
The Saints added to their lead in the eighth. Novak came into to score on an
Eric Pearson (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) squeeze bunt to extend the lead to 6-4. Olson followed with a two-run double to ultimately make the final 8-4.
Pitching
Grant Taival (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) pitched only 0.2 innings of relief to get the win.
Jerry Gooley (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) went 6.1 innings to earn the no decision.
Jack Perala (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) and
Dallas Miller (Big Lake, Minn./Big Lake HS) allowed only one hit over the final two innings.
Top Offensive Performers
Olson was 3-for-4 with four RBIs to lead the offense. His three and hits and four RBIs were career-highs. Zwak was 3-for-5 and scored three times. Zwak has recorded a hit in each of the first six games this season.
Up Next
The Saints (3-2-1) will face Washington & Jefferson tomorrow (Monday) back in Auburndale. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (ET).
