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Ole Baseball Comes from Behind to Top UW-River Falls

Lars Finanger/Matt Karnas
April 10, 2001

After opening their conference season on Sunday with two wins against Carleton, the Oles continued their winning ways with a sweep of UW-River Falls in two tightly contested non-conference games. Junior Co-Captain Brian Sprout (Lake City, Minn.) dominated Falcon pitching and led the offensive attack in the opener by knocking in six runs enroute to an 8-4 victory. In the second game, the Ole bats remained dormant until the final stanza when Kevin Quame's (Jr., Benson, Minn.) bases loaded double brought in three runs and gave the Oles the 5-3 come-from-behind win.

In the opener, the Oles wasted no time in putting runs on the board as they tallied two in the first frame. After drawing a leadoff walk, first-year left fielder Joe Pavelko (Richfield, Minn.) advanced to third on a fielder's choice error that gave senior Casey Coulson (Rosemount, Minn.) first base. Coulson moved to second on a wild pitch and Brian Sprout's (Jr., Lake City, Minn.) single drove in both runners.

After the Falcon offense mustered together three runs in the second to give them a 3-2 lead, the Oles did not strike back until the fifth inning. The rally started once again when Pavelko drew a one out walk. After a Coulson fly ball gave the Oles their second out, Sprout pulled the trigger and lined a homer over the right field fence, putting the Oles back on top 4-2.

The Falcon offense again strung together some timely hits and tied the game in the sixth inning, but the Oles erupted for four of their own in the seventh and put the game out of reach. Pavelko and Coulson started the fireworks with back-to-back singles and Sprout tripled to center field to score both runners. After junior catcher Dan LaManna (So. St. Paul, Minn.) grounded to short for the second out, junior third baseman Kevin Quame (Benson, Minn.) singled home Sprout and later scored when junior right fielder Lars Finanger (Decorah, Iowa) doubled down the right field line.

Sprout led the Ole offense going 3 for 3 at the plate. His single, triple and homer drove in a massive six runs. After relieving starting pitcher Brent Larson (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.), first-year Joe Blankush (Duluth, Minn.) pitched five strong innings and picked up the win.

In the second game, the Oles got on the board in the second inning when first-year catcher Brad Baglien (Mounds View, Minn.) singled and later scored on junior center fielder Steve Ryan's (So. St. Paul, Minn.) sacrifice fly. The lead did not last long however, as a wind blown three-run homer cleared the right field fence just out of the reach of Joe Pavelko and the Falcons were back on top. In the sixth, the Oles crept within one run when designated hitter LaManna reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a pinch-hit single from Finanger.

Down 3-2 with one out in the final stanza, the Oles began their charge from behind. Leadoff batter Pavelko drew a walk, and liking what he saw, Coulson did the same. A Sprout fielder's choice forced Coulson out at second and left runners on first and third with two outs. LaManna was hit by a pitch to load the bases and set the stage for Quame's clutch base clearing double.

After going six strong innings, the Oles elected to relieve starting pitcher Jeff Jasperson (FY, Duluth, Minn.) and went with junior Reid Rose (Orono, Minn.). Despite giving up a hit and a walk, Rose kept his poise, made a great play in the field and struck out the final batter to pick up the save.

Five Ole batters contributed to the hitting barrage, collecting one hit each. Jasperson gave up three runs, six hits and struck out four in six innings of work.

The Oles are 9-5 overall (2-0 MIAC) and will hit the road again on Tuesday, April 10 to take on Hamline University at 2:30 in St. Paul

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