Notables

-Oswald picks up three hits in game one

-Jeffries throws complete game to earn third win of season

-Taival strikes out seven in relief

-Hlinsky records four strikeouts in two innings of relief

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica baseball team splits its evening doubleheader against the Pipers from Hamline in two very close contests. CSS pulled away with a game one victory behind a strong pitching performance by a score of 2-1. In game two, the Saints bats were held in check, and although another quality pitching outing from the Saints, Hamline squeezed by with a game two victory by a score of 3-1. 

Game One: CSS: 2, HAM: 1
Kyle Oswald (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) led off the opening inning for the Saints with a single, and after Adam Braun (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS (Central Lakes CC)) and Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) both reached base, Levi Stubbles (San Bruno, Calif./El Camino HS (Skyline College)) drove in Oswald for the first run of the game, giving the Saints an early lead. 

Payton Jeffries (Vancouver, Wash./Union HS (Shasta College)) set down the Pipers in order in the second inning, while also picking up two strikeouts in the third inning, holding Hamline scoreless through three innings. 

The Pipers were able to bring a run across in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1. 

Oswald and Braun both got hits to begin the bottom of the fifth inning and with one-out in the inning, Stubbles picked up his second RBI of the game on a single to score Oswald and give the Saints a 2-1 lead after five innings of play. 

Jeffries continued his dominance in the top of the sixth inning, striking out two more Pipers batters to keep the score right at 2-1. 

After the Saints were held scoreless in the bottom of the fifth inning, Jeffries shut down Hamline in the seventh, earning the complete game and giving CSS a 2-1 lead in game one. 

Game Two: HAM: 3, CSS: 1

The Pipers wasted no time getting a run on the board to begin the second game of the night, scoring a run on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead over CSS. 

Schelonka singled with one out in the bottom of the first inning, then promptly stole second and advanced to third on a wild throw. He would score later in the inning on a sacrifice fly from Stubbles to tie the game at 1-1. 

Hamline doubled in a run to reclaim its one run lead over the Saints in the top of the second inning, leading 2-1. 

Jack Harris (San Francisco, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (Skyline CC)) tripled with one out in the inning, but the Saints could not capitalize on the early momentum in the inning, trailing 2-1 after two innings. 

Hamline added a run in the top of the third inning on an RBI single to push its lead to 3-1 over the Saints. 

Grant Taival (Lake Elmo, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) delivered some needed innings of relief for the Saints, as the pitcher was able to deliver 3 ⅔ innings of work, while striking out seven to keep the score at 3-1 entering the late stages of the game. 

Zack Hlinsky (Albertville, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) and Wes Kemming (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) entered the game on the mound for the Saints in the late innings, with both recording shutdown innings and multiple strikeouts, but the Saints still trailed 3-1.

Unfortunately for the Saints, despite keeping the Pipers bats in check, the Saints were unable to muster together any more runs, as the Pipers took the second game of the day by a score of 3-1. 

Up Next

The Saints (16-10, 5-7) will be back in action on Saturday, where they will host Wartburg College, which will also be Senior Day at Wade Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 P.M.