04/18/07

Averaging more than 12 runs and 11 hits per game entering Wednesday's game at St. Thomas, the Saints were held below each of those season averages as they dropped a 5-1 decision to the Tommies after being limited to just seven hits over nine innings.

The Saints (17-4) had been rolling along on a 15-game win streak in which they had beaten eight different opponents by an average score of 14 to 2.

St. Scholastica couldn't put together one of their patented big innings against the Tommies (20-7), though.

The Saints had a baserunner in both the first and third innings but couldn't bring the runner home as both times St. Thomas starting pitcher Riley Bosch recorded inning-ending strikeouts.

With the Tommies up 3-0 in the top of the fifth, St. Scholastica's Mike Lewis stood on third base, 90 feet away from home plate but once again a strikeout ended the inning.

St. Scholastica's best opportunity may have come in the seventh inning when they had the bases jammed after a two-out Lewis double, Brandon Swartz walk, and Steve Gerten single. Bosch was able to record the third out to end the threat and maintain his shutout and his team's three-run lead.

After St. Thomas had widened the lead to five with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Saints were finally able to push a run across in the top of the ninth following a leadoff single by Keith Ritsche. He moved up a base on a ground out then scored from second on a Swartz single. The late rally ended, however, with a strikeout that ended the game.

Lewis (2-for-4) was the only Saint and one of only three batters in the game that finished with a multiple-hit performance.

Starter Mark Moriarty (5-2) took the loss for the Saints after surrendering three runs on four hits, no walks and five strikeouts over three and a two-thirds innings on the mound.

Bosch (5-1) earned the win for St. Thomas.