04/29/06

The pair of wins finishes off a three-game series that began with a 4-3 bottom of the ninth come-back win on Friday, and now extends their winning streak to 11 games, behind only a mid-season 12 game streak.

The Saints jumped out front early in game one as leadoff batter Chad Weiss walked and later came around to score on a Keith Ritsche ground out. The Saints picked up another run in the third inning then three more in the fifth to take a five run lead over the Vikings.

With junior Mark Moriarty on the mound, the solo run in the first inning proved to be all the Saints would need.

Moriarty (7-1), a two-time UMAC Pitcher of the Week already this season, scattered three hits while striking out 10 in six innings of work. He gave way to Eric Hagen in the seventh who walked the first batter he faced then struck out the side to close out the win for the Saints.

Ritsche picked up another RBI later in the game, Luke Olin and Mike Lewis added an RBI apiece, and Brandon Swartz finished 2-for-3 in the victory.

Yet again, the Saints were able to put runs up on the board early as they pushed three across in the bottom of the first in game two.

Daryl Fuchihara started things off with a one-out double, followed by a Luke Olin single to put runners on the corners for Ritsche who cleared the bases with a 2-run triple. Swartz' deep fly to center brought in Ritsche and just like that, the Saints had a 3-0 lead.

Chad Weiss (3-1) pitched six innings of three-hit ball for the Saints to pick up the win. Freshman closer Adian Kummet picked up a save after coming on to start the seventh, striking out the final two batters to finish off the Vikings.

No. 5 St. Scholastica (31-3, 18-0 UMAC) has now won 33 of their last 36 home games at Wade Stadium and will finish their 2006 regular season
sched­ule with a three game Friday-Saturday series against Minnesota-Morris
next week­end, followed by their final home game this year, a single 9-inning game on Sunday against No. 10 St. Thomas.