Saints Rally For Win

The Saint Scholastica Saints baseball team was has held at bay for 8 1/3 innings by Bethany Lutheran College's junior hurler Brady Grohs who pitched masterfully over 8 1/3 innings. Grohs allowed just three hits and one run while striking out five before giving way to the Vikings closer sophomore Ben Rubenking who walked two Saints batters and allowed three hits and three runs, including a two-run single by Chad Weiss who tied the game and a game winning RBI single by Brandon Swartz. The Saints won the UMAC game by the score of 4-3 in front of 104 fans at Wade Stadium in Duluth.

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The Saints started the game by sending Keith Ritsche to the hill, who is currently tied for the team lead in wins. Ritsche pitched well, allowing three runs, two of them earned, walking two and striking out five over six innings of work. Ritsche was releived by Ben Grams with the Saints trailing 3-0 in the seventh inning. Grams worked the rest of the way without allowing a hit over the final three innings of work. Grams picked up the win to run his record to 2-0 on the 2006 season.

Junior Brandon Swartz

The Saints offense was held at bay through eight innings, entering the bottom of the ninth inning trailing the Vikings 3-0, that's when the magic returned to CSS's bats. Keith Ritsche led off the bottom of the ninth by grounding out to the shortstop, giving the Saints just two out to manufacture three runs. That brought Mike Lewis to the plate, with one out, who sharply singled between the third baseman and the shortstop. The Vikings then changed pitchers and the Saints sent red hot Steve Kraushaar to the dish with one out and Weiss on first. Kraushaar walked and Nick Lee was tabbed to pinch hit for Sean Tracy. Lee fouled out the first baseman, which left the Saints trailing 3-0 with two outs and runners on first and second. Kyle Rizzi then was sent to the plate to pinch hit for Kyle Wojtysiak. Rizzi then singled through the right side of the infield loading the bases for Grant Eller. Eller then walked scoring Lewis and bringing the deficit to two with the bases still loaded and Chad Weiss coming to bat. Weiss then struck a hard hit single up the middle that scored two runs and tied the game at 3. Second baseman Brandon Swartz then came to the plate with runners at first and second with the chance to be the hero. Swartz came through with a huge hit scoring Eller and sending St. Scholastica to a 4-3 UMAC victory.

The Saints will take on the Vikings again Saturday at noon in a doubleheader at Wade Stadium. The Saints will enter the game on a nine-game winning streak and a 30-3 overal record as well as 17-0 in the UMAC. The Vikings are now 13-19 overall and 9-7 in the UMAC. Please come on out to the Wade to cheer on the Saints!