05/12/07

Behind a 19 hit attack, St. Scholastica (34-6) moved past the first round of Thursday’s conference tournament with a 21-2 victory over Northland College (9-22).

The Saints will play the University of Minnesota-Morris, 8-2 winners over Bethany Lutheran College in the other first round match-up, in the semifinals at 7 p.m., Thursday night.

Blake Eller got things going for the Saints in the bottom of the first with a one-out double. He stole third and came home for the game’s first run when the throw got past the third baseman.

St. Scholastica sent 17 batters to the plate in a 12-run third inning keyed by lead off triple by Eller who came in to score on Steve Kraushaar’s single to right field.

First baseman Sean Claugherty had one hit in the game but it was a two-RBI double that got past the Northland centerfielder after which Claugherty raced home to beat the play at the plate to give the Saints a 6-0 lead.

Eller finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Senior Sean Tracy also collected three hits for the Saints, scored twice and had a game-leading four RBI.

Starter Chad Weiss (5-1) pitched five and two-thirds innings in earning the win. His consecutive scoreless-inning streak ended at 29 innings after Northland scored two unearned runs in the top of the sixth. Weiss struck out nine and walked only one. Jake Gaub and Dan Lanari pitched the final one and third innings in relief without allowing a run.

Brad Schoenman (1-6) started and took the loss for the ’Jacks pitching into only the third inning before giving way to relief help after surrendering seven runs on six hits and two walks.