Notables
-Braun, Haapajoki, Oswald all record two hits
-Schelonka strikes out eight batters across six innings
-Martin picks up second win of season
-Kemming records second save
DAVENPORT, Fla. – The St. Scholastica baseball team wrapped up the Russmatt Invitational today, taking on the Blue Devils from Wisconsin-Stout. Both squads went back-and-forth throughout most of the game, but it would be the Saints coming away with the victory, thanks to a four-run seventh inning, by a final score of 7-5.
How it Happened
Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) recorded the rare four strikeouts in the top of the first inning, with one Blue Devil reaching base on a dropped third strike.
Schelonka was the first Saints baserunner in the bottom of the second, reaching base via a walk. After a passed ball on ball four to Adam Braun (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS (Central Lakes CC)), Schelonka was able to advance to third base to put a man in scoring position. One batter later, Levi Stubbles (San Bruno, Calif./El Camino HS (Skyline College)) would drive in Schelonka on a sacrifice fly, giving CSS a 1-0 lead after one inning of play.
Jumping to the top of the fourth inning, the Blue Devils tallied its first run of the game courtesy an RBI double, tying the game at 1-1.
Alex Haapajoki (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd HS (Central Lakes)) and Sam Shopbell (Prior Lake, MN/Prior Lake HS (Fayetteville CC)) led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single and double, respectively. Just a batter later, Kyle Oswald (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) brought in Haapajoki on a sacrifice fly, putting the Saints back on top with a 2-1 lead after four innings.
Schelonka was able to shut down Wisconsin-Stout in the top of the fifth inning, striking out two batters in the process, as the Saints held on to a 2-1 lead.
The Saints were able to tally another run in the bottom of the fifth inning, with Finley Spicer (Aberdeen, N.C./Union Pines HS (Limestone University)) driving in Braun, who doubled earlier in the inning, extending the Saints' lead to 3-1.
The Blue Devils responded right away with a run of its own in the top of the sixth inning, bringing its deficit down to just one run.
Wisconsin-Stout was able to tie the game at 3-3 on the first batter of the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run. Later in the inning, an RBI double would give the Blue Devils a one run lead over the Saints, as the game moved to the bottom of the seventh inning.
CSS was able to load the bases early in the inning, as Schelonka, Stubbles, and Spicer all reached base. It would be a Haapajoki 2-RBI double that would give CSS its lead back, and Spicer and Haapajoki would both later score in the inning, putting CSS in front by a score of 7-4.
Wisconsin-Stout tried desperately to tie the game at 7-7, and although they would add a run in the top of the eighth to make the score 7-5, strong pitching performances from T.J. Martin (Minneapolis, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) and Wes Kemming (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) would prove to be enough, with CSS holding on to a 7-5 victory today.
Up Next
The Saints (10-1, 0-0) will be back in action on March 20th, where they will play a doubleheader against Concordia University Wisconsin. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 P.M.
