Notables
-UWSP receiving votes in D3baseball.com poll
-Seven Saints players record a hit
-CSS scores three runs in ninth
-CSS finishes RussMatt Invitational 4-3
AUBURNDALE, Fla. (
csssaints.com) - In its final game of the RussMatt Invitational, the St. Scholastica baseball team took on a more familiar face in the Pointers from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Pointers took an early lead, only to see CSS fight back and make the game close. Ultimately, five runs scored by the Pointers in the final three innings proved to be too much to overcome as the Saints fell in Saturday's matchup by a score of 8-5.
How It Happened
The Saints tapped
Dallas Miller (Monticello, Minn./Big Lake HS) to start today's matchup. The Saints were silenced early and Miller struck out two Pointers batters heading into the third inning.
In the third inning, Stevens Point (5-1) etched its name on the scoreboard first. Leading off with a double to open the inning, Stevens Point took the lead, scoring on a wild pitch and leaving its half of the inning leading CSS, 1-0.
CSS added two runs of its own in the top of the fourth. It began with
Mitchell Olson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) doubling down the line and advancing
Matt Tautges (Fort Ripley, Minn./Pierz HS), who was hit by a pitch to open the inning, to third. Tautges scored on an RBI single by
Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) with one out in the inning. Olson then scored on a sacrifice fly to give the Saints its first lead of the ballgame, leading Stevens Point, 2-1.
The Pointers would reclaim the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs on two RBI singles that made the game 3-2 in favor of Stevens Point.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Stevens Point enhanced its lead over CSS, scoring three runs in the inning, coming off of five hits in the inning and one CSS error. Heading into the final innings of the game, Stevens Point was in control of the game, with a lead over CSS by a score of 6-2.
The Saints flirted with cutting into the Pointers lead, but could not bring in any runners.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Stevens Point put two men on base via two walks in the inning. An RBI single scored both runners and made the game 8-2 going into the top of the ninth inning and giving CSS three outs to work with to try to make a comeback.
Cody Venske (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) singled to right center with two outs in the ninth inning, showing that CSS wasn't quite finished.
Bryce Huffman (Proctor, Minn./Proctor HS) then walked to put two men on with two outs.
Zach Harding (Red Wing, Minn./Red Wing HS) singled through the right side that made the bases loaded and gave CSS a real possibility of coming back. In stepped
Mitchell Novak (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS). Novak drew a walk and scored Venske and made the game 8-3. Tautges then singled down the right field line, scoring both Huffman and Harding, making the game 8-5. CSS got the go-ahead run to the plate, but ultimately fell by a score of 8-5.
Up Next
The Saints (5-7) will be back in action next Friday where they will take place in the Wheaton College (Ill.) Invitational in Wheaton, Illinois. They will take on Concordia College-Moorhead in what will be a preview for conference play this year. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
