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Oles Dominate Carleton in MIAC Baseball Opener

Lars Finanger
April 9, 2001

In the opening series of the 2001 MIAC season for St. Olaf, the Oles came out hot beating the Carleton Knights 14-0 in the first game and 11-0 in the second. Because of recent warm weather and a mixture of rain, the Cannon River covered Carleton?s field and forced Sunday's game to be played in Dundas.

In the first game, it took a couple innings to get going, but in the third the Oles collected eight consecutive runs on seven consecutive hits, led by a three-run homerun by senior co-captain Nick Beissel (Lakeville, Minn.). Doubling in the inning were Co-captain Casey Coulson (Sr., Rosemount, Minn.), third baseman Kevin Quame (Jr., Benson, Minn.) and centerfielder Steve Ryan (Jr., So. St. Paul, Minn.).

In the fourth the Oles collected another run as junior Lars Finanger (Decorah, Iowa) reached on an error that scored Coulson from third. In the fifth, the Oles collected one more run as two-time MIAC Player of the Year Brian Sprout (Jr., Lake City, Minn.) homered off the score board in left. In the sixth, the Oles collected three more runs as Coulson, Quame and pinch-hitter Kevin Jaunich (So., Delano, Minn.) scored. The Oles collected one more run in the seventh as Sprout lead off the inning with a double, advanced to third and scored on an error.

The Oles had 14 runs on 14 hits, six of which were doubles. Quame and Ryan both went 3 for 4 on the game. Quame collecting a single and two doubles, and Ryan hitting two doubles and a triple. Having a tremendous pitching performance was junior Erik Goodmanson (Albert Lea, Minn.) who went six innings, giving up no runs, two hits, no walks and striking out nine. Aaron Koppen (Jr., Pine City, Minn.) came on in relief in the seventh inning and retired the side.

In the second game, it took the Oles until the third inning to strike, as junior catcher Dan LaManna (So. St. Paul, Minn.) doubled with two outs, reached third on an error and scored on a passed ball. In the fifth, with two outs, Quame doubled to score first-year outfielder Joe Pavelko ( Richfield, Minn.), who led off the inning with a walk. Finanger singled to score Quame and was followed by Beissel, who singled to advance Finanger to second. Sophomore DH Mike Ludwig (Blaine, Minn.) singled to bring in Finanger and Beissel,who scored on an ensuing error by the catcher. In the sixth, both Ryan and Pavelko singled and advanced to second and third on a pitch in the dirt. The Knights then intentionally walked Sprout to bring up LaManna, who hit a bases clearing double off the wall in centerfield. Quame then doubled again to score LaManna. Finanger came up with two outs and doubled to score Quame.

The Oles collected 11 runs off 12 hits, leaving nine on base, eight of which were in scoring position. Pavelko, LaManna, and Quame each went 2-4, with LaManna and Quame each having two doubles, and LaManna collecting 3 RBI?s. Nick Beissel reached on all four plate appearances, walking twice and singling twice.

Lars Finanger also had a notable game going 2-3, with a single, a double, and scoring two runs. The Oles received another great pitching performance as first-year Charlie Rudd (Canon Falls, Minn.) pitched six innings, giving up three hits, no walks and striking out seven. First-year Jim Eckstein (Sleep Eye, Minn.) came on in the seventh to close the game.

Up next for the Oles is a double-header at 2:30 on Monday, April 9th in River Falls, Wis. and on Tuesday, April 10 at 2:30 another pair vs. conference foe Hamline University in St. Paul. St. Olaf is 7-5 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC.

Contact Pat Buresh at 507-786-3315 or buresh@stolaf.edu.