AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The St. Scholastica baseball team took on the Cougars from Concordia Chicago this morning in the second day of the Russmatt Invitational. Despite the Saints gaining a lead and maintaining that lead throughout most of the game, a late comeback attempt from the Cougars proved to be the difference maker, as the Saints fell in today's matchup by a score of 5-4. 

How it Happened

The Cougars claimed an early lead in the top of the first inning, bringing home a run on a sacrifice fly, taking an early 1-0 lead over CSS. 

Despite the Saints recording four hits across the first through third inning, the Cougars were able to turn away attempts to even things up, as the score still remained at 1-0 heading into the middle stages of the game. 

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Luke Krull (Greenville, WI/Xavier HS) led off the inning with a walk, and two batters later with two outs in the inning, Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) gave CSS its first lead of the ballgame on a two-run home run to propel the Saints in front 2-1. 

Mason Argir (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd HS (Central Lakes College)) was able to take care of the Cougars in the top of the sixth inning with a 1-2-3 inning while picking up a strikeout, keeping the Saints in front. 

In the top of the seventh inning, the Saints escaped a threatening scoring opportunity from the Cougars, with Nico Gallegos (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake HS) recording the final two outs of the inning, including a strikeout, to protect the Saints' lead heading into the eighth inning. 

The Cougars reclaimed the lead in the top of the eighth inning, scoring two runs on two hits in the inning, to take a 3-2 lead into the Saints half of the eighth inning. 

Finley Spicer (Aberdeen, N.C./Union Pines HS (Limestone University)) led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk which then brought up Schelonka. Schelonka then launched a clutch two-run home run, his second of the game, giving the Saints a 4-3 lead heading into the ninth inning.

After the Cougars got a pair of runners on base to begin the ninth, a two-RBI double would put the Cougars back on top, leading 5-4 with the Saints down to their final three outs. 

CSS was retired in order in the ninth inning, as the Cougars came away victorious by a score of 5-4 in today's lone game for the Saints. 

Up Next

The Saints (1-4, 0-0) will continue the Russmatt Invitational tomorrow, Sunday March 9, where they will take on Gwynedd Mercy University (PA). First pitch is scheduled for 9:00 A.M. EST