Big comeback gets Bees season-opening win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Ambrose (IA) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
|
Kansas Wesleyan | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Ambrose (IA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
|
Kansas Wesleyan | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 10 | 12 | 1 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final (10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Ambrose (IA) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 4 |
|
Kansas Wesleyan | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 3 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Ambrose (IA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
|
Kansas Wesleyan | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 9 | 9 | 0 |
Trailing 12-2 after six innings, St. Ambrose mounted a monumental comeback, scoring 16 runs over the final four innings to defeat Kansas Wesleyan 18-13 in 10 innings in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday.
A two-run Peter Mitchell home run in the top of the seventh got the rally started.
An inning later, Aaron Vertuno, Mason Nauman, Eric Gonzalez, Michael Stupavsky and Noah Chase drove in runs as part of a six-run frame that cut the deficit to 12-10.
Kansas Wesleyan pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth, but SAU forced extra innings with three runs in the top of the ninth. Gonzalez had an RBI single and Mason Heitzler followed with a two-run hit to knot the score at 13-13.
A pair of home runs broke things open in the 10th. Matthew McBrien launched a two-run shot to center to score Luke Brabham to give the Bees their first lead. Gonzalez then ripped a three-run shot to left-center to bring in Michael Rago and Mitchell for a 18-13 lead.
Aidan Stratton earned the win by pitching the final 2 1/3 innings. He allowed just one hit. That came on the heels of Aidan Pieniazek surrendering just a single unearned run over 2 1/3 innings. Connor Bird and Michael Moise combined to work the first 5 1/3 frames.
Gonzalez finished 4-for-4 with six RBIs and three runs scored. Brabham also collected four hits. Mitchell and Heitzler had two hits apiece and Bryce Vorwald went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
The rest of the weekend wasn't as kind to the Bees.
After Jake Pauley got the season started with a solo home run in the top of the first, St. Ambrose managed just three more hits the rest of the way in an 11-1 setback Friday. Brandon Cusack took the loss before giving way to Matt Donovan, Aaron Vertuno and Ian McGhiey.
The Wildcats completed the sweep with a 10-3 win. Stupavsky and Filip Milatovic each had a pair of hits. Dominic Guzman was charged with the loss. Jimmy Traficanti worked the final 3 1/3 innings.
KWU won the final game of the four-game set 9-2 Saturday. The Wildcats scored six runs in the first. Gonzalez, Milatovic, Chase, Rago and Quinn Flanagan had hits in the loss. David Biedron got the loss. Jack Kerpan pitched in relief.
The Bees will play a four-game series at McPherson next weekend.