MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The St. Scholastica baseball team closed out its final tune-up before spring break in impressive fashion Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader against Crown College at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Saints earned a 9–0 win in the opener before erupting for an 18–4 victory in the finale, improving to 3–1 on the season.
Game 1 – St. Scholastica 9, Crown 0
The Saints wasted no time setting the tone in the opener, scoring three runs in the first inning and never looking back in a 9–0 shutout victory. Luke Krull (Greenville, WI/Xavier HS) jump-started the scoring with an RBI double before Tyler Tiedeman (Las Vegas, NV/Faith Lutheran HS) followed with a two-run double to give St. Scholastica an early cushion.
The offense continued to apply pressure in the second inning as Markus Isaiah (Centralia, IL/Centralia HS) and Damian Tamayo Vera (Miami, FL./Felix Varela Senior HS) each drove in runs to push the lead to 6–0. Isaiah finished with two runs scored and an RBI, while Vera added two RBIs in the win. Owen Maslowski (Stillwater, MN/Stillwater Area HS) chipped in with a double and two runs scored, and Caden Hall (West Union, WV/Gilmer County High School) also drove in a run as part of a balanced Saints attack.
On the mound, Zach Hlinsky was dominant, earning the win after five shutout innings. He allowed just two hits while striking out five. Blake Bullis (Inver Grove Heights, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall HS) closed the door with two scoreless innings in relief as the Saints completed the shutout and limited Crown to just two hits in the contest.
Game 2 – St. Scholastica 18, Crown 4
The nightcap was all Saints from the opening pitch, as St. Scholastica erupted for 12 runs in the first inning to seize full control. Markus Isaiah (Centralia, IL/Centralia HS), Finley Spicer (Aberdeen, N.C./Union Pines HS (Limestone University)), Luke Krull (Greenville, WI/Xavier HS), Damian Tamayo Vera (Miami, FL./Felix Varela Senior HS), and Andrew Beffel (Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS) all delivered RBIs during the frame as the Saints sent 16 batters to the plate and built a commanding early lead.
Isaiah had a standout performance, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored and an RBI. Krull added three hits and three RBIs, while Spicer finished with three hits, three runs scored, and two RBIs. Vera contributed three runs scored and two RBIs as the Saints piled up 20 hits in the game.
Jonathan Stoeckle (Fresno, CA/Clovis West HS) picked up the win on the mound, allowing just three hits over four shutout innings. The Saints' pitching staff limited Crown to four runs as St. Scholastica completed the sweep in convincing fashion.
With the pair of wins, the Saints improve to 3–1 on the season and will now turn their attention to their upcoming spring break trip to Florida, where they will continue nonconference play.
