RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The St. Scholastica baseball team took part in a road doubleheader this afternoon against the UW-River Falls Falcons. The Falcons jumped out to an early lead in game one and didn't look back, capturing a victory over CSS by a score of 12-3. In game two however, the Saints put together a three-run sixth inning, to take a one-run lead into the late stages of the game, coming away with a 3-2 victory, splitting the doubleheader.
Game One: UW-RF: 12, CSS: 3
After the Saints were retired in order to begin today's action, the Falcons jumped out to a quick lead, bringing three runners across on two hits to lead 3-0 after one inning of play.
Damian Tamayo Vera (Miami, FL./Felix Varela Senior HS) and Sam Shopbell (Prior Lake, MN/Prior Lake HS (Fayetteville CC)) both led off the top of the second inning with base hits, but the Saints were unable to capitalize on an early start, stranding both runners in the inning.
Five more runs would score in the bottom of the second inning for the Falcons, three of which came on a home run, as the Falcons lead grew to 8-0.
The Falcons brought home four more runners across the bottom of the third, fourth, and fifth innings, with the lead sitting at 12-0 over CSS.
In the top of the sixth inning, Levi Stubbles (San Bruno, Calif./El Camino HS (Skyline College)) singled to give CSS an early baserunner. One batter later, Tamayo Vera would drive him in on an RBI double, giving the Saints its first run of the afternoon. After Shopbell drew a walk, Max Israel (Cottage Grove, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) would drive in a run and reach base to cut the deficit to 12-2.
Israel would later score in the inning on a wild pitch, as the score sat at 12-3, but the Falcons were able to keep the Saints bats in check, coming away with a game one victory.
Game Two: CSS: 3, UW-RF: 2
The Saints got a pair of opportunities to strike first in the second game of the day, as Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) singled and stole a base in the top of the first inning, and Jack Tiemann (Bloomington, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) and Ethan Raye (Superior, Wis./Superior HS) walked to get a pair of runners on in the top of the second, but both opportunities were denied by the Falcons.
Matt Juza (Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake HS) racked up a trio of strikeouts early in the second game, as the score remained at 0-0.
UW-River Falls picked up the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI double, taking a 1-0 lead after three innings of play.
In the next inning, the Falcons added another run on an RBI base hit, expanding its lead to 2-0 over the Saints.
In the Saints half of the sixth, Shopbell drew a walk and Nate Hammerback (Alexandria MN/Alexandria HS) reached base on a single to give the Saints a pair of runners on. One batter later, Ryan Garlick (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids HS (Iowa Central CC)) launched a three-run home run over the right field fence, giving the Saints its first lead of the afternoon.
CSS' bullpen helped out after taking a 3-2 lead, as Ethan Zimmerman (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) picked up a hold in a scoreless inning in relief, and Jacob Worley (Ocoee, Fla./Legacy Charter HS (Crown College)) retired the Falcons in order in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving CSS a 3-2 victory in game two and splitting today's doubleheader.
Up Next
The Saints (9-10, 2-3 MIAC) will have another doubleheader on its hands tomorrow, where they will host the Oles from St. Olaf at Wade Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
