03/11/07

The ‘big inning’ haunted the Saints once again this season as they lost a 7-5 decision to Penn State-Behrend in the Florida opener for both teams.

St. Scholastica (2-3) jumped on top 2-0 early in the game behind Steve Gerten and Steve Kraushaar RBIs but fell behind in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Lions (1-0) used six hits and two walks to push seven runs across the plate across Saints starter Chad Weiss.

St. Scholastica tried to rally in the sixth but left the bases jammed without scoring. They finally broke through with a run in the eighth on another Gerten RBI that cut into the Behrend lead.

Holding the Lions in check after relieving Weiss with two outs in the third, Saints pitcher Adian Kummet allowed only one hit and a walk while striking out five over four and a third innings, setting his team up for one final rally opportunity in the top of the ninth.

Sean Claugherty got things going with a single and moved up to second when Blake Eller drew a walk. Kraushaar then lashed a two-RBI double that brought in Claugherty and Eller, and closed the gap to two runs with only one out and the tying run coming to the plate.

Behrend closer Ryan Smith extinguished the threat, though, with a strikeout and groundout to end the game and earn the save.

Weiss took the loss for the Saints giving up seven runs, all earned, on seven hits, three walks, with three strikeouts in three and two thirds innings.