UMAC Game of the Week: Bethany Lutheran vs. St. Scholastica - Baseball
The UMAC Game of the Week runs each Thursday during the conference regular season and breaks down one key matchup from one sport.
The Matchup
Saturday, May 5 - Bethany Lutheran College at College of St. Scholastica, baseball, 1 p.m., Duluth, Minnesota
What's at Stake
- Championship impact - Saturday's games are the only two remaining for St. Scholastica, while Bethany Lutheran will have two remaining Sunday. With just one loss, a split with the Vikings would guarantee the Saints at least a share of the confernce title. A sweep for the Saints would clinch the championship outright. Should the Vikings sweep the Saints, it could mean at least a share of the title but that is pending the outcome of the Vikings' contests Friday with Crown College.
- Rivalry renewed - For several years, the Vikings consistently were the UMAC team to challenge the Saints before missing the postseason in 2016. Last year, the Vikings narrowly defeated the Saints in a 1-0 extra inning loss int he regular season before making it to the championship round of the tournament last spring.
Previously in Action
- Bethany Lutheran scored 33 runs in a sweep of North Central University Tuesday. The Vikings will still have to play a UMAC doubleheader with Crown Friday to make up a series postponed earlier this spring. At the time of release, the Vikings are 9-1 in league play with three series remaining.
- St. Scholastica extended its conference winning streak to 11-straight games with a sweep of Northland College Tuesday. The Saints put up 39 runs in the two wins over the LumberJacks. St. Scholastica has clinched a postseason berth at 11-1.
Need to Know
- One loss season streak - The Saints have an already-blemished mark heading into potentially their toughest UMAC series of the season. In the UMAC NCAA era, the Saints have never lost more than one game to a UMAC opponent during the regular season. Including this season, the Saints' last two UMAC losses have come at the hands of the University of Northwestern.
- Best yet - At the time of release, Bethany Lutheran has just one loss and is poised for potentially its best season in the UMAC NCAA era. Since 2009, the Vikings' top record came in 2011 when they finished 18-2.
- 62 - Reigning UMAC Player of the Year Steven Neutzling of St. Scholastica has reached base safely in each of his last 62 games extending back to last season.
Players to Watch - Bethany Lutheran
- Ben Boran, Jr. - UMAC Stats: .469 avg., 23 hits, 22 RBI
- Ross Buemer,Fy. - UMAC Stats: .529 avg., leads UMAC; 1.029 slg., leads UMAC; 18 RBI
- Nick Caldeen, Sr. - UMAC Stats: .816 slg., 18 runs, 5 HR
Players to Watch - St. Scholastica
- Drew Colvard, Sr. - HM last season; UMAC stats: 0.554 OBP; 32 runs, leads UMAC; 24 hits, leads UMAC
- Steven Neutzling, Sr. - Player of the Year,All-UMAC last season; UMAC Stats: .479 avg., 23 hits, 26 RBI, leads UMAC
- Aaron Weber, So. - UMAC Stats: .477 avg., 0.593 OBP, 20 runs
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2017-18 Game of the Week Archives