AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The College of St. Scholastica scored 16 unanswered runs, including 12 in the seventh inning, to beat the Keene State College baseball team 18-4 on Friday afternoon at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex Field No. 8.

Records

• Keene State:  3-6
• St. Scholastica:  3-3

How It Happened

Mac Struthers had three more hits in three at bats while also walking and driving in a run, while Sam Czel went 1-for-3 with an RBI.  Tyler Gammie, David Sevigny, and John Taranovich each had singles for KSC, who was derailed by four errors which led to St. Scholastica scoring 10 unearned runs.  Aaron Weber and Cody Venske each drove in three runs for the Saints.

Owls starter Ryan Sliwinski got off to a strong start, retiring CSS in order in the top of the first, and Keene State followed it up by threatening in their initial turn, putting two on with two out after Struthers and Gammie both singled, but a strikeout stranded both runners.  St. Scholastica then scored first when an error kicked off the second, and a single and a walk followed as the Saints loaded the bases with nobody out.  Venske's fly ball to center scored one run before Jeff Lemay's two-out single made it 2-0.  The Owls got out of further trouble, and hit back with a four-run frame of their own to go ahead.  Three consecutive walks kicked things off before Tom Meucci was hit by a pitch to bring in a run.  Czel followed with a sac fly to left that tied the game.  A Struthers infield single and a productive run-scoring groundout from Connor Walsh helped put Keene State up 4-2 after two.  It did not take long for St. Scholastica to tie it, as Zach Harding walked to lead off the top of the third and came home just one batter later after Eric Pearson's two-run homer.  Tied 4-4, neither team advanced a runner past first base again until the Saints went ahead for good in the top of the sixth, a frame which began with a hit batsman and a walk.  A double steal put the Owls in a 5-4 hole, which widened to two after Cole Tyman's two-out, run-scoring triple.  The Owls eventually put the tying run on base in the bottom of the sixth after Czel's single chased CSS starter Jake Sande and Struthers followed by taking a free pass, but a popup back to reliever Braydon Hanson ended the threat.  St. Scholastica then had the first nine batters reach in the seventh inning and scored 12 times to run away.  The Saints had six hits in the frame and the Owls committed three miscues.

Sliwinski (0-1) went the first 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits while walking three and striking out three.  Sande (2-0) got the win, allowing six hits and four runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Around the Horn

• Struthers has five hits in his last seven at bats and has driven in four runs.  He has multiple hits in five of the last seven games.
• Czel has opened the season with a nine-game hitting streak and is hitting .438 on the season, driving in a run in all but two games.
• Taranovich, Colin McKeon, and Michael Montembeault all made their collegiate debuts in this game.
• It was the first meeting between the two schools.

Up Next

• Keene State will wrap up their Florida trip with a matchup against Nichols College tomorrow, March 16, at 9:45 am in Auburndale.
• After a matchup with No. 13 Concordia College (Tex.) later today, St. Scholastica, located in Duluth, Minn., will conclude their time in the Sunshine State against Westfield State University tomorrow at 9:30 am.