Welcome to Championship Saturday: Whitewater vs St. Scholastica

St. Scholastica (37-6) advances for the second time in school history to the regional championship game, where it will play the host school, UW-Whitewater.

The only other time the Saints were in the regional final was in 2008, where Whitewater shelled them 21-13 as St. Scholastica was tapped out on pitching. This time CSS head coach Corey Kemp feels the Saints have the arms to win it.

Following Friday’s postgame media conference following his team’s 2-1, elimination game victory over St. Thomas (Minn) he wouldn’t rule out having ace Matt Lewis (9-1, 1.62 ERA) as his starting pitcher vs. the Warhawks.

Lewis pitched 12 innings in the Saints’ opening round loss to Hamline on Wednesday.

Today won’t be this first time CSS and Whitewater have met on the diamond this season.

On May 3rd St. Scholastic travelled to Whitewater for a pair of seven-inning games.
The Warhawks won the opener with UWW’s Jack Larson and Eric Fritz combining on a 4-hit, 2-1 victory. Larsen earned his first career victory for the Whitewater.
Matt Lewis got the loss, his first of the season, despite giving up just five hits in going the distance.

In game-two, UW-Whitewater started another freshman pitcher – Justin Mortenson – who pitched well, giving up five hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
A two-run 6th inning was the difference for CSS as Saints’ pitcher got out of a jam in the final inning to get the win.

CSS will need to beat the Warhawks twice to advance to their first College World Series, to be held May 27-31 at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis.

Whitewater head coach John Vodenlich will have plenty of options for his pitching strategy.

Riley Tincher, who has had two appearances already in this week’s Midwest Regional, is ready to go nine innings today if needed.

UWW’s No. four starter, Jack Larsen, has yet to pitch this week.

No. 3 starter, Justin Lambert, is also available after 4-point-1 innings on the mound in Thursday’s 7-6, 10 inning win over Hamlin University (Minn).

Despite rain showers in the region at 10:15 a.m. (but no rain in Whitewater) today’s first championship game is set to begin at 12-Noon.