Notables
-A combined eight runs were scored in the ninth inning of game two
-Kemming earns first collegiate save in game one and first collegiate win in game two
-Novak and Schelonka each record first collegiate home runs
-Tautges has reached base in all 12 games this season – never hit prior to this season
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica baseball team had to use two different types of rallies to sweep Northland College on Tuesday at Wade Stadium in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) doubleheader. The Saints gradually cut into the lead and finally overtook Northland in the seventh inning of game one to win 5-4, but had to use a four-run bottom of the ninth in game two to win 9-8 to complete the sweep.
Game 1: CSS 5, Northland 4
The first game of the day saw the LumberJacks (1-16, 0-4 UMAC) jump out to a 3-0 lead after four innings. After running themselves out of innings early on, the Saints finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth when
Mitchell Novak (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) hit a ball to left center that got past the centerfielder and rolled all the way to the wall to not only score
Matt Tautges (Fort Ripley, Minn./Pierz HS), but Novak came all the way around for the inside-the-park home run to make it 3-2.
The score remained 3-2 until the seventh when Novak struck again with a RBI single to bring in
Riley Ahrndt (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) to tie the game at 3-3.
Mitchell Olson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) then hit a shot back at the pitcher, which caromed into left field and allowed Tautges to score and give the Saints their first lead at 4-3. Novak later scored on a
Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) fielder's choice to make it 5-3.
Northland got one run back in the eighth inning to cut the lead to 5-4 and got the tying run on base in the ninth before
Wes Kemming (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) shut the door for his first collegiate save.
Jack Perala (Virginia, Minn./Virginia HS) pitched five innings of relief, striking out six, to earn the win. Tautges, Novak and Olson combined to go 7-for-10 at the plate with Olson registering three hits.
Game 2: CSS 9, Northland 8
The nightcap saw the Saints lead for much of the contest, only to see Northland take a three-run lead in the top of the ninth. St. Scholastica answered in the bottom of the ninth with four runs and a Tautges walk-off single gave the Saints the 9-8 victory.
CSS got sacrifice flies from Olson and Schelonka to make it 2-0 in the third inning.
Luke Schemenauer (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls HS) also drove in a run in the inning to make it 3-0. After Northland got a pair of runs in the fourth inning,
Jack Tiemann (Bloomington, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) scored on a Novak groundout and Tautges scored on a wild pitch to give the Saints a 5-2 lead.
The LumberJacks hung around and got two more runs in the seventh to once again make it a one-run game. Heading into the top of the ninth, a double followed by a single to lead off the inning tied the game at 5-5. Then with the bases loaded and two outs, Northland hit a ball into the left centerfield gap to clear the bases and give the LumberJacks their first lead at 8-5.
Undeterred, the Saints responded in the bottom of the ninth as Olson beat out an infield single to lead things off. Schelonka then stepped to the plate and hit a two-run home run to left center to make it 8-7.
Zach Harding (Red Wing, Minn./Red Wing HS) hit a one-out single and
Alex Haapajoki (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd HS (Central Lakes CC)) was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Following a pop out,
Cody Venske (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) drew a walk to load the bases.
Now it was the Saints' turn to deliver with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. Leadoff hitter,
Matt Tautges (Fort Ripley, Minn./Pierz HS) did just that, with two strikes, singling up the middle to bring in pinch runner
Alec Curtis (Roseville, Minn./Roseville HS) and Haapajoki for the game-winning run as the Saints came away with the 9-8 walk-off win.
After earning his first collegiate save in game one, Kemming earned his first collegiate win in game two.
Jerry Gooley (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) struck out seven in four innings in the no decision. Schelonka was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. His home run was his second of the season, but his first official collegiate home run as the one he hit earlier this season took place in a game that was not completed.
Up Next
The Saints (8-4, 4-2 UMAC) will be on the road Saturday when they face rival Bethany Lutheran College in a UMAC doubleheader in Mankato. Action begins at 1:30 p.m.
