Notables
-Three CSS players record a multi-hit game in game one
-Miller strikes out six in seven innings of work in game one
-Bethel scores four runs in ninth inning in game two to cap off win
-Bethel receiving votes in D3baseball.com poll
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica baseball team hosted the Royals from Bethel University this afternoon in the home opener at Wade Stadium in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) matchup. The Saints took care of Bethel in game one of the afternoon, winning 5-2. However, Bethel scored four runs of its own in the ninth inning of game two, spoiling CSS' chance at a sweep, winning by a score of 7-6.
Game 1: CSS 5, Bethel 2
The Saints gave the bump to
Dallas Miller (Monticello, Minn./Big Lake HS) in game one this afternoon. The senior pitcher struck out one in the top of the first inning and retired the first three Royal batters with ease. After the Saints' were also set down with little trouble in its half of the inning, the Royals put the first run of the afternoon in the top of the second, taking an early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning,
Jack Harris (San Francisco, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (Skyline CC)) opened up the inning with a single.
Zach Harding (Red Wing, Minn./Red Wing HS) doubled with one out. Both runners then scored on a Bethel error in which
Mitchell Novak (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) reached second on.
Matt Tautges (Fort Ripley, Minn./Pierz HS) then singled through the right side, scoring Novak and extending the Saints' lead, 3-1.
Jack Tiemann (Bloomington, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) singled to put two on. With two outs in the inning,
Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) doubled into the left side, scoring both Tautges and Tiemann and giving the Saints a 5-1 lead.
The Royals added another run in the top of the fourth inning, cutting into the Saints' lead 5-2.
Both teams were silenced as Miller was silencing the Royals bats as they couldn't get any runs in.
In the top of the seventh inning, Miller was sent out to finish the Royals off. He got the first batter to ground out and put the magic number of outs down to two. The next Bethel batter popped up and the following batter to fly out which gave CSS the win in game one of the doubleheader by a score of 5-2.
Game 2: Bethel 7, CSS 6
Game number two in the afternoon saw the Saints jump on Bethel early. In the bottom of the first inning,
Mitchell Olson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) walked with one out to put a runner on. Schelonka and
Luke Schemenauer (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls HS) then singled to make the bases loaded. Harris then singled up the middle that scored both Olson and Schelonka and gave CSS an early 2-0 lead. The Saints added another run on an error and the Saints ended its half of the first inning holding a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Saints extended its lead. Schelonka doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single by Schemenauer. Harris and Harding both walked to load the bases. Schemenauer scored on a fielding error that made the game 5-0. The Saints were not quite done, adding another run on an RBI single by Novak, giving the Saints a 6-0 lead.
The Royals added three runs in the top of the fifth inning, slowly chipping away at the Saints' lead, making the game 6-3.
In the top of the ninth, the Saints held a 6-3 lead and were three outs away from a sweep over Bethel. The Royals led off the inning with a single then put two men on base via a hit by pitch and a walk. With the bases loaded, the Royals got a run in by a single. With two outs in the inning, Bethel tied the game on a single up the middle, which gave the Royals momentum. They weren't quite done, as the Royals added another run and it became the winning run as the Saints were silenced in the bottom of the ninth and fell in game number two, 7-6.
Up Next
The Saints (6-10, 1-3 MIAC) will be back in action Wednesday where they will play a doubleheader against Concordia College-Moorhead. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.in Moorhead.
