Notables
-Second consecutive day Harding delivers the go-ahead RBI
-Longest game since defeating Bethel in 15 innings in 2018
-Schelonka extends hitting streak to 11 games
-Mergen has three wins and a save in five appearances this season
ST. PETER, Minn. (
csssaints.com) - The St. Scholastica baseball team faced Gustavus Adolphus College on Tuesday. The Saints were able to split the doubleheader, winning the second game in 13 innings by a score of 3-2. The Saints were led by a stellar outing from
Dallas Miller (Monticello, Minn./Big Lake HS), in which he pitched nine solid innings striking out 10 Gusties batters along the way.
Game 1: GAC 7, CSS 1
CSS found the scoreboard first in game one when in the bottom of the second inning
Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) singled to lead off the inning.
Cody Venske (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) followed up with a single of his own to put two Saints batters on. Venske scored the first run of the game, courtesy of an RBI single by
Zach Harding (Red Wing, Minn./Red Wing HS), giving the Saints an early 1-0 lead.
The Gusties (23-10, 10-6 MIAC) tied the game in its half of the second inning with a solo home run.
Gustavus topped its second inning score with another run being scored in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking the lead over CSS, 2-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Gustavus scored two more runs on a two-run RBI single, extending its lead, 4-1.
The bottom of the sixth inning, the Gusties broke the game open, scoring three more runs on four hits, putting themselves in the driver's seat for game one, leading 7-1 heading into the final inning.
The Saints' bats were silenced throughout most of the game, tallying just one hit through the last five innings, ultimately falling in game one of the doubleheader, 7-1.
Game 2: CSS 3, GAC 2 (F/13)
The Gusties came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning, scoring an early run to take a lead over CSS, 1-0.
Both teams had a tough time stringing together key hits as the game remained deadlocked at 1-0 for the next three innings.
The Saints cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning, coming of an RBI single by
Mitchell Olson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS), scoring
Mitchell Novak (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS), who drew a walk earlier in the inning, tying the game at 1-1.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Saints used the momentum gained from the fifth inning to tally another run, taking the lead over the Gusties. Schelonka led the inning off with a single to left, advanced to second on a wild pitch in the next at-bat, and scored on a suicide squeeze by Harding, giving the Saints a 2-1 lead.
Gustavus rallied back in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring a run on an RBI single to tie the game back up at 2-2.
The game then became about not giving up the lead with strong pitching. Both CSS and Gustavus were held scoreless through the next three innings, forcing the game to go into extra innings.
Dallas Miller (Monticello, Minn./Big Lake HS) pitched nine fantastic innings, striking out 10 Gusties' batters while keeping CSS in the game.
As the game remained tied at 2-2, the Saints caught a break in the top of the 13th inning.
Jack Harris (San Francisco, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (Skyline CC)) doubled with one out to put a man in scoring position for CSS. With one out, Harding delivered the game's biggest hit, an RBI single that scored Harris and gave CSS the lead, 3-2 heading into the Gusties' half of the 13th inning, only three outs away from victory.
Grant Mergen (Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS), who pitched in the 12th inning for the Saints, was tasked with shutting down the Gusties in the bottom of the 13th inning. Mergen did not disappoint, retiring all three Gustavus batters, including striking out one, to give CSS a win in style over Gustavus in game two of the doubleheader.
Wes Kemming (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) and Mergen pitched four scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits. Harris and
Miles Liebren (Saint Paul, Minn./Saint Paul Central HS) each had a pair of hits to lead the offense.
Up Next
The Saints (14-16, 9-9 MIAC) will travel to St. Paul for its final MIAC doubleheader of the regular season where they will take on Hamline University on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
MIAC Playoff Outlook
The Saints are currently tied with St. Olaf College for the fourth-and-final MIAC postseason spot both with one doubleheader left. St. Scholastica holds the tiebreaker over the Oles after sweeping them on Monday. Saint Mary's University and Concordia College-Moorhead have the advantage in the loss column over the Saints with Saint's Mary's having two doubleheaders remaining and Concordia trying to fit in four doubleheaders.
