DULUTH, Minn. -- St. Scholastica came up clutch twice on Saturday afternoon, sweeping a MIAC doubleheader from Hamline at Wade Stadium with a pair of walk-off victories. The Saints improved to 17-15 overall and have now won three of their last four games.
Game one turned into a tight pitcher's duel that remained scoreless into the final inning. The Saints managed just three hits through the first six frames, but found a way when it mattered most in the seventh. Andrew Beffel (Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista HS) reached to start the rally, and after a Hamline miscue helped extend the inning, Luke Krull (Greenville, WI/Xavier HS) dropped down a bunt single that brought home the game's only run for a 1-0 walk-off win.
On the mound, Blake Bullis (Inver Grove Heights, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall HS) gave the Saints a strong start, working into the sixth inning before Ethan Zimmerman (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) took over. Zimmerman shut the door over the final 1.2 innings, striking out three and stranding a late Hamline threat to secure the victory.
The second game featured more offense early and even more late-game drama. St. Scholastica struck first with runs in the opening two innings, including an RBI single from Owen Maslowski (Stillwater, MN/Stillwater Area HS) and a run scored by Tommy Crupi (Gilbert, AZ/San Tan Charter) on a passed ball. Hamline answered with a pair of unearned runs to tie the game at 2-2, and the score held into the ninth.
After strong relief work kept the game even, the Saints once again delivered in their final at-bat. Luke Krull (Greenville, WI/Xavier HS) led off the ninth with a single and moved into scoring position, while Damian Tamayo Vera (Miami, FL./Felix Varela Senior HS) was intentionally walked to put the winning run on base. With two outs, Ben Schefers (Cologne, MN/Central HS) lined a single to right field, scoring Krull and sealing the 3-2 walk-off win.
Tamayo Vera led the Saints offensively in game two with three hits, while the team totaled 12 hits in the nightcap.
St. Scholastica will look to keep the momentum going when they return to action Tuesday at Gustavus.
