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Oles Take Two from the Scots

Lars Finanger/Matt Karnas
April 25, 2001

After coming off two tough losses this past weekend, the St. Olaf baseball team fired back strong winning both games of the double-header versus Macalester College. The Oles used the wind to their advantage by putting up a total of 44 runs and 11 homeruns. In game one, the Oles won 25-7, and in game two, 19-9.

In the first game, the Oles struck first scoring nine runs in the first inning. The inning was highlighted by three homeruns, two of which were hit by senior co-captain Casey Coulson (Rosemount, Minn.) and the other by junior shortstop Brian Sprout (Lake City, Minn.). The second inning proved to be another long ball inning as the Oles scored two more runs off two solo homeruns, one by senior co-captain Nick Beissel (Lakeville, Minn.) and the other by junior third baseman Kevin Quame (Benson, Minn.). In the third, two more homeruns were hit, one by Sprout, and the other by junior catcher Dan LaManna (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), as the Oles went on to score eight runs on six hits. The Oles went on to score five more runs in the fifth and added one more in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 25-7 win.

All in all, the Oles collected 25 runs on 23 hits and left seven on base. Hitting stars in the first game included Sprout who went 2-5 with two homeruns, Coulson who finished the game 3-3 with two homeruns and a double, LaManna who went 4-5 with two singles, a double and a homerun and Joe Hammond (Neillsville, Wis.) who broke out and went 3-5 with three singles and two runs scored. Collecting the win was Junior Aaron Koppen (Pine City, Minn.) who went six strong innings and striking out three.

In the second game, the Scots came out hot scoring four runs in the first, but the Oles answered back by scoring in every inning but the fifth. In the first inning Coulson scored off a single by Quame. In the second inning, Sprout hit his third homerun of the day to make the score 4-2 in favor of the Scots. In the third the Oles pulled ahead by scoring five runs on four hits including a homerun by junior center fielder Steve Ryan (South St. Paul, Minn.). In the fourth the Oles extended the lead as they scored nine runs off seven hits, including a homerun by Beissel and a double by Sprout. The game was called in the bottom of the sixth, due to darkness. The Oles managed to score three runs off four hits, including another homerun by Beissel giving him two on the game and three for the day. The final score was 19-9.

The Oles scored 19 runs while collecting 20 hits. Leading the way was Sprout, who went 3-4 with a single, double, homerun, and three RBIs, Quame who went 4-5 with four singles, and Beissel who went 2-3 with two homeruns. Gaining the win for the Oles was first-year pitcher Jeff Jasperson (Duluth, Minn.) who went six innings, striking out five.

Next up for the Oles is a double-header at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 26, at Parade Stadium in Minneapolis against Augsburg College. The Oles are now 10-2 in conference play and 17-7 overall.

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