04/23/07

The Saints will remember Monday afternoon's opening game of a doubleheader at Hamline University (16-10) as one that got away, stranding six runners in scoring position of the 10 left on base in a 1-0 loss to the Pipers.

St. Scholastica (13-14) starting pitcher Amy Jansen opened with consecutive 1-2-3 innings before allowing a lead-off single in the third. But she only faced three batters in that inning as well when a double-play slammed the door shut.

Jansen set the Pipers down in order again in the fourth before a walk and back-to-back doubles in the fifth brought home the first run of the game to give Hamline a 1-0 lead.

The Saints, meanwhile, were making the least of their opportunities to that point.

A one-out single from Brenna Zavodnik and a Gina Garramone walk put runners at first and second in the top of the first but the Saints couldn't bring Zavodnik around, missing their first chance of the day.

In the fourth, a lead-off walk to Garramone was followed by a Rilee Dawson single and Erica Kozacek walk that loaded the bases with no outs. Three fly balls ended that inning without a run, chance number two gone by the wayside.

In the top of the sixth, after Hamline squeezed out their one run in the bottom half of the previous inning, Dawson reached first with one out after being hit by a pitch. Kozacek walked and Katie Brown was also hit which again loaded the bases. A pop-up to the shortstop and foul fly caught by the leftfielder closed the door on the third opportunity for the Saints.

Down to their final three outs in the top of the seventh, behind by only one run, the Saints got a one-out single from Chelsey Weiss and a single from Zavodnik that put the tying run in scoring position, only 120 feet away from home plate.

For the fourth time in the game, Hamline was able to hold the Saints at bay with a fly out to centerfield and a line-out to second that ended the game.

St. Scholastica had only four hits in the game, half by Zavodnik, despite their many scoring chances.

Jansen (3-7) pitched a strong six innings for the Saints allowing just the one run on only four hits and two walks, and struck out six in taking the loss. Theresa Boleen (10-7) picked up the win for the Pipers.