AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The St. Scholastica baseball team picked up its second victory over the season and first of the Russmatt Invitational, with a dominating 10-1 performance over the Griffins from Gywneed Mercy University (PA). The Saints trailed early and sat scoreless in the opening stages of the game, but 10 runs across the final four innings helped push the Saints to their second victory of the young campaign. 

How it Happened

The Griffins were the first ones to bring home a run in the contest, scoring a run on an RBI single in the top of the second to take a quick 1-0 lead over the Saints. 

St. Scholastica's bats were held in check in its halves of the second and third inning, as the Griffins remained in the driver's seat, still holding a one-run lead. 

Jumping ahead to the top of the fifth inning, Ethan Zimmerman (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) picked up two of his six strikeouts in the game in the inning, retiring the Griffins in order, but the Saints still trailed 1-0.

In the Saints half of the bottom of the fifth inning, Brady Goebel (Albany, MN/Albany HS) and Jack Tiemann (Bloomington, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) led off the inning getting on base, and Goebel would later score on a passed ball to tie things up at 1-1. Just one batter later, Nate Hammerback (Alexandria MN/Alexandria HS) would bring in Tiemann on a sacrifice hit to give the Saints its first lead of the contest. 

Ryan Garlick (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids HS (Iowa Central CC)) would add another run in the inning, driving in a run on a sacrifice fly, expanding the CSS lead to 3-1 after five innings of play. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) reached base to start off the inning, as did Damian Tamayo Vera (Miami, FL./Felix Varela Senior HS), who singled to put two runners on for CSS. Following Andrew Beffel (Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS) stealing second base after pinch running and Goebel singling, the Saints would add two runs on consecutive at-bats, as well as a two-RBI single from Hammerback, giving the Saints a nice six-run cushion. 

Jacob Worley (Ocoee, Fla./Legacy Charter HS (Crown College)) picked up two strikeouts in the top of the seventh inning en route to a shutdown inning and protecting the Saints lead. 

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Saints would add two runs on a Finley Spicer (Aberdeen, N.C./Union Pines HS (Limestone University)) two-RBI triple, as well as a bases loaded walk taken by Adam Braun (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS (Central Lakes CC)), with the Saints' lead being brought to 10-1. 

Worley would stay in for another inning of work in the ninth inning, as the Saints would silence the Griffins offense and take today's contest by a score of 10-1. 

Up Next

The Saints (2-4, 0-0) will continue the Russmatt Invitational on Tuesday, March 11, taking on Beloit College. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 A.M. EST