SAU moves to 5-1 in CCAC play by sweeping CCSJ
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Calumet (IN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
|
St. Ambrose | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | X | 10 | 10 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Calumet (IN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
|
St. Ambrose | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | X | 6 | 11 | 5 |
Erica Ralfs pitched a two-hit shutout in the opener then broke a 3-3 tie with an RBI single in the fifth of the second game to help St. Ambrose sweep Calumet by scores of 10-0 and 6-3 Wednesday afternoon at the St. Vincent Athletic Complex.
In the first game, which ended after five innings, Ralfs didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning. She surrendered both hits that frame but escaped unscathed. Ralfs struck out four.
She got all the offensive support she would need in the opening inning. SAU played small ball, collecting three bunt hits and taking advantage of a CCSJ error to push across three runs. Alyssa Schumacher and Paige Kirkman had RBIs in the inning.
Shai Erdrich extended the lead to 4-0 in the second when she beat out a bunt single, then raced around the bases as the throw sailed into the outfield. Allison Polly had a two-run double as part of a four-run third inning. Eryn Cornwell and Erdrich each drove in a run. The Bees plated two unearned runs in the fourth to end the scoring.
Erdrich went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Schumacher had two hits. Kirkman, Cornwell, Polly and Kayla Stenger each picked up one hit.
The Bees appeared poised for another big win in the nightcap. Schumacher, Ralfs and Stenger had RBIs as St. Ambrose led 3-0 into the fifth inning.
But Emilee Erickson, who didn't allow a hit through four innings, ran into trouble in the fifth. The Crimson Wave used a bases-loaded single and an RBI groundout to draw even at 3-3.
SAU retook the lead in the bottom half of the fifth. Erdrich beat out an infield single and stole second. Ralfs laced a single up the middle to plate Erdrich with what proved to be the winning run. In the sixth, Reagan Engberg doubled in pinch runner Liz Garcia before ultimately coming around to score on a wild pitch to cap the scoring.
Erdrich, Ralfs and Stenger each had two of the Bees' 11 hits. Schumacher, Kirkman, Engberg, Polly and Mackenzie Stiewe also had hits.
Kayla Roemer earned the win with three innings of relief work. She allowed four hits and one unearned run. Erickson finished with five strikeouts over four innings.
SAU will take a break from conference play by hosting Loras Thursday.