NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College baseball team lost its first game against the College of St. Scholastica 42-9, but rallied to win game two 9-4. The nightcap was suspended due to darkness after eight innings, and completed on Sunday, Apr. 12.
Game 1 – St. Scholastica 42, Carleton 9
St. Scholastica (12-7, 2-1 MIAC) tallied runs in each inning, slugging a pair of home runs, drawing 22 walks, and being hit by pitch eight times in its offensive onslaught. Carleton (5-12, 3-2 MIAC) was able to score nine runs in seven innings on 11 hits.
Brandon Damelin's first career home run and a bases-clearing double from
Jason Seeber served as offensive highlights for the Knights.
Nathan Barnhart reached in all five of his plate appearances with four walks and a hit-by-pitch, scoring twice. Seeber went 2-for-3 with his double off the bench.
Ryan Chang carded two hits in four tries, driving in one and scoring once.
Will Schnepf was also 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Damelin finished 3-for-4, driving in four runs and scoring twice while ending his day a triple shy of the cycle.
Game 2 – Carleton 9, St. Scholastica 4
Ryan Kessner shut down the potent Saints offense in the first inning, punching out two. Schnepf fully flipped the momentum with a booming three-run home run in the bottom of the frame.
Max Israel responded with a second-inning solo shot for Scholastica, but Carleton added two more runs in the second with a trio of hits.
Kessner did not allow another run until the fifth, when the visitors strung together three singles to cut the Knights' lead to 5-2. Barnhart drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the inning to push the lead back to four runs. Finley Spicer knocked a homer to left field in the following half-inning, pulling the Saints back within 6-3.
Sam Chutkow relieved Kessner to start the top of the seventh, and the Saints loaded the bases against him. The Knights erased the threat, however, after Seeber, fresh into the game as a defensive substitute, made a leaping grab at second and doubled up the closest runner.
After Chutkow put up another zero in the top of the eighth, Barnhart led off the Carleton half of the inning with a single.
Sam Gossard walked, and Chutkow helped himself with an RBI single through the infield. Schnepf scored Gossard with a single into left, and an error allowed Chutkow to score and take the score to 9-3. The game was halted there due to darkness, and the ninth inning was completed on Sunday, Apr. 12 at St. Olaf's Mark Almli Field after the scheduled St. Scholastica/St. Olaf doubleheader concluded.
On Sunday, Chutkow went to the mound for the final three outs, picking up where he left off from Wednesday's action. The righthander first faced red-hot Damian Tamayo Vera, who slugged his fifth home run of the day, after hitting four in the two games against the Oles. The Saints followed with a bunt single and a pair of flyouts, and then loaded the bases with two outs. Chutkow was not fazed by the tying run being on deck, and delivered a game-ending strikeout to complete a save that spanned 3.0 innings and over 90 hours.
Kessner threw 6.0 innings, allowing three runs, walking one, and striking out four. He picked up the win to move to 2-1 on the year. Chutkow has thus far thrown 2.0 scoreless innings, fanning two.Chutkow's 3.0-inning save saw him concede just one run while striking out three. It was the righty's third career save, moving him into a tie for second-most in recorded Carleton history. (see below)
Barnhart continued his on-base excellence, going 2-for-3 with two walks, scoring a pair of runs. Chang went 2-for-4 for the second straight game. Schnepf went 2-for-5 with his first home run of the season, driving in four runs.
Adam Rubin went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.
Jackson Darke registered two hits in four at-bats.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton hosts crosstown rival St. Olaf College on Thursday, April 9. The first pitch of the twinbill will come at 2:30 p.m. at Mel Taube Field.
Most Career Saves by Carleton Pitchers:
1. 4 – John Nielson – 1988-91
2. 3 – Tony LePage – 2000-03
2. 3 – Paul Dimick – 2009-2012
2. 3 – Kevin Johnson – 2011-15
2. 3 – Cody Bohlman – 2013-16
2. 3 –
Sam Chutkow – 2022-present
