DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica baseball team closed out its regular season this afternoon in a doubleheader against the Johnnies from Saint John's University. The Saints played a complete game on both sides of the ball in game one, winning 14-0, but the Johnnies squeaked by late with a four-run ninth inning, taking game two by a score of 6-5. 

Game One: CSS: 14, SJU: 0

Kyle Oswald (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) and Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) both got on base with base hits to put two men in scoring position with no outs in the inning. After Jack Tiemann (Bloomington, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS) drove in a run on an RBI groundout, Damian Tamayo Vera (Miami, FL./Felix Varela Senior HS) brought in a run on an RBI single, pushing the lead to 2-0. 

Zack Hlinsky (Albertville, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS) had a strong showing in the second inning for the Saints, striking out the side while forcing the Johnnies to strand a pair of runners. 

Finley Spicer (Aberdeen, N.C./Union Pines HS (Limestone University)) and Sam Shopbell (Prior Lake, MN/Prior Lake HS (Fayetteville CC)) both singled to put two runners on for the Saints. Following a passed ball, Ryan Garlick (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids HS (Iowa Central CC)) singled up the middle to drive in both runners and expand the lead to 4-0. Later in the inning, Oswald launched a single to right that scored two more runners, making the score 6-0

The Saints offense wasn't quite done however, as Tiemann brought in two more runs on an extra-base hit, as the Saints lead grew to 8-0. 

Back-to-back doubles from CSS by Braun and Shopbell gave the Saints another run to make it 9-0. After Garlick reached base via a hit by pitch, Oswald reached base on a Johnnie error that scored a run to bring across CSS' 10th run of the contest. The Saints were able to capitalize on the mistake, bringing in two more runs in the inning, making the score 12-0 in favor of CSS. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Shopbell tripled in Braun, who reached on a walk earlier, to make the score 13-0. Another Saint John's error would cause CSS to tack on one more run, bringing the score to 14-0. 

Payton Jeffries (Vancouver, Wash./Union HS (Shasta College)) was able to come in for the final six outs in relief, as the senior retired the Johnnies in order, giving CSS a major win in game one.

Game Two: SJU: 6, CSS: 5

In the bottom of the third inning, Shopbell and Levi Stubbles (San Bruno, Calif./El Camino HS (Skyline College)) both singled to begin the inning for the Saints. After Oswald reached base, Schelonka recorded a walk with the bases loaded to bring in the game's first run. One batter later, Tiemann drove in Stubbles on a sacrifice fly, giving the Saints a 2-0 lead after two innings of play. 

Saint John's added a run back in the top of the fifth inning on a solo home run, cutting the Saints lead in half 2-1. 

Braun led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single for the Saints. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Shopbell stole second base to put himself into scoring position. The move paid off, as Stubbles was able to drive him in on an RBI single, giving the Saints its two-run lead back, leading 3-1.

Matt Forrest (Oakdale, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) escaped a jam in the top of the seventh inning, as the Johnnies stranded a pair of runners, keeping the Saints in front by a score of 3-1. 

Saint John's notched its second run of the game on a solo home run to deep left field in the top of the eighth inning, as the Saints held a one-run lead in the later stages of the contest. 

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Stubbles got on base and promptly stole second base. That brought up Oswald, who pierced an RBI double over the centerfielder's head, making the lead 4-2 heading into the top of the ninth inning. 

The Saints had the Johnnies right where they wanted them, but despite being down to its final strike, Saint John's was able to get a run on an RBI single and followed it up with a two-RBI base hit and another RBI single, as Saints John's held its first lead of the afternoon heading into the bottom of the ninth, leading 6-4. 

CSS was able to get a run across on an RBI groundout that scored Tamayo Vera, but the comeback would fall short, as Saints John's took game two by a score of 6-5, splitting today's doubleheader. 

Senior Spotlight

The St. Scholastica baseball program was able to celebrate its seniors today, as they were honored in between today's two games. CSS will say goodbye to seniors Payton Jeffries (Vancouver, Wash./Union HS (Shasta College)), Adam Braun (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS (Central Lakes CC)), Jake Schelonka (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS), Jack Tiemann (Bloomington, Minn./Bloomington Kennedy HS), Joe Udd (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Denfeld HS), Mason Argir (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd HS (Central Lakes College)), Levi Stubbles (San Bruno, Calif./El Camino HS (Skyline College)), Sam Shopbell (Prior Lake, MN/Prior Lake HS (Fayetteville CC)), Ryan Garlick (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids HS (Iowa Central CC)), Matt Forrest (Oakdale, Minn./Hill-Murray HS), Beau Plaisance (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS), Jacob Worley (Ocoee, Fla./Legacy Charter HS (Crown College)), Ethan Raye (Superior, Wis./Superior HS), Zeke Walton (Olivia, Minn/BOLD HS (Ridgewater CC)), Kyle Oswald (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS), and Drew Sparrow (Edina, Minn./Edina HS). 

End of Season

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