03/05/07

The Saints (2-1) lost their first game of the season as they fell to fourth-ranked UW-Stevens Point (2-0) by a score of 7-6 on Monday night at the Minneapolis Metrodome in a rematch between two teams that met in the opening game of the 2006 NCAA Midwest Regional.

Though St. Scholastica defeated the Pointers 4-3 in the game, Steven’s Point went on to capture the Regional and move on to the NCAA World Series.

On Monday night, a Mike Lewis sacrifice fly brought home Blake Eller to give the Saints a 1-0 lead after one, which they built into a 5-0 lead after two innings behind junior Steve Krashaaur’s bases-loaded triple that cleared the bases. However, the third inning proved costly for the Saints.

The Pointers scored seven runs on six hits and one error in the inning. With no outs, Pointer second baseman Tim Schlosser doubled, registering three RBI as Brandon Scheidler, Joel Hojnacki and Justin Bushong scored.

A single by Doug Coe brought Schlosser home. The following CSS error coupled with a double by Stewart Larsen gave the Pointers a lead that they would not relinquish. Stevens Point closed out the inning by adding a second unearned run that would prove to be the game-winner.

With only three hits and one run over the next seven innings, the Saints weren’t able to complete a come back after the devastating third inning.

Senior Keith Ritsche took the loss for the Saints, surrendering only five earned runs on six hits. Mark Erickson took over for Ritsche midway through the third inning and struck out nine with just one walk while holding UWSP scoreless for six and two-thirds innings.

Brandon Hemsted moved to 1-0 on the season with the win for the Pointers after coming on in relief of starter Ryan Hopkins in the second inning. Hemsted allowed one run on two hits, struck out eight and walked only two Saints.