05/05/06

The Saints put their first three runners on base to open the game, scoring two runs on a Brandon Swartz RBI single through the left side and later, a fielders choice from Steve Kraushaar that scored Swartz.

That was all starting pitcher Chad Weiss (4-1) needed as he retired 13 of the first 16 batters he faced in the game. Weiss surrendered 1 run on 5 hits, no walks and 5 strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings to earn the win for the Saints. Trevor Copeland (2-2) picked up the loss for the Cougars.

The Saints pitching depth was on display in the game as Joey Zanni, Nate Hill, Ben Grams and Adian Kummet combined to allow only 1 run on 2 hits over the final four and a third innings for St. Scholastica.

Kraushaar had 3 hits with 2 RBI and scored a run to spur the offense. Seth Engberg and Swartz each picked up a pair of hits in the victory, with Swartz adding a second RBI in the fourth inning.

Daryl Fuchihara hit his fourth homerun of the season with a 3-run shot to left-center in the fifth.

The No. 5 Saints (32-3, 19-0 UMAC) stretched their current win streak to 12 games and have won 34 of their last 37 home games in Wade.

The series with Minnesota-Morris (10-24, 6-11) concludes on Saturday with a doubleheader at Wade that begins at noon. The Saints will then close out their regular season schedule with a single game on Sunday as they host No. 28 St. Thomas at 1 p.m.