Box Score: St. Olaf 6, Macalester
5
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Northfield, Minn., May 5- Nick Beissel hit a game-winning two-run homer in the seventh inning to lead St. Olaf to a 6-5 victory over Macalester in the first round of the MIAC baseball playoffs.
Macalester was the first team to score, with three runs in the second inning. Justin Haskin drove in two runs with a double to left field, and then advanced to third on a grounder to the right side of the infield. Damon Dahlheimer drove Haskin in with a double to center. St. Olaf answered with two runs in the third inning. Kevin Quame drove a double to right field, scoring the first run. Lars Finanger drove in the second run with a single to left. The Oles added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on two solo homers by Steve Ryan and Brian Sprout.
Macalester tied the game up in the seventh when Scott Bell, who had doubled to lead off the inning and then advanced to third on a wild pitch, scored on a grounder. Beissel then hit his game-winning two-run homer. Macalester threatened in the top of the ninth, scoring one run, driven in by Keenan Sue. A slick defensive play by St. Olaf on a bunt, getting the out at third, and two bases loaded strikeouts ended Macalester's chances.
Quame led the way for the Oles at the plate, going three for three with one RBI. Bell had a hot bat for Macalester, going four for five.
Reid Rose (5-0 overall) picked up the win for St. Olaf, striking out one in one relief inning. Brian McCarthy (3-4 overall) took the loss, giving up three runs in two and two thirds innings pitched.
St. Olaf advances in the winners bracket to meet St. Thomas at 7 p.m. this evening at Dundas, Minn. Macalester continues in the losers' bracket, facing Bethel at 7 p.m. at Sechler Park in Northfield, Minn.