Schwartz pitches one-hitter and hits home run as Rebels down Blossoms
Published 8:27 pm Friday, April 11, 2014
Southland pitcher Taylar Schwartz delivers in the bottom of the second inning against Blooming Prairie Friday afternoon in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
BLOOMING PRAIRIE —It is very early in the spring, but the Southland baseball team is looking like it is in midseason form.
Blooming Prairie’s John Rumpza swings on a pitch in the second inning against Southland Friday in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
For the second straight game, the Rebels were dominant as they cruised past the Awesome Blossoms 14-0 in five innings in BP Friday.
Southland senior Taylar Schwartz pitched a one-hit shutout, while striking out eight in five innings and he added a three-run homer in the third inning to help his cause.
“I’ve been hitting all winter and my swing is kind of the same,” Schwartz said. “We’re still a little rusty, but it’s gone great so far.”
The Rebels (2-0 overall) racked up 13 hits in the win and Lukas Anderson launched a grand slam over the left field fence to break things open and make it 6-0 in the top of the second inning.
Anderson said the Rebels are feeling good about their start so far this season.
“I think it’s gone pretty well. We’re all pretty happy with the outcomes so far. Hitting and producing runs early is key when we haven’t hit too many balls outside,” Anderson said. “For [Schwartz’s] first time out you can’t ask for anything more. He was throwing strikes and he was pretty outstanding.”
Southland has out-hit its first two opponents 24-3 and it has won those two games by a combined score of 26-0. Southland head coach Scott Retterath is pleased with how his team has played, but he knows its too early in the year to start getting too excited.
Lukas Anderson is met at homeplate by teammates after hitting a grandslam against Blooming Prairie Friday in Blooming Prairie. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“I’m pleasantly surprised,” Retterath said. “You hate to say you’re playing good [this early], but right now we’re playing better than I expected at this time. After spending three weeks in the gym and hitting sponge balls in the cage, it’s good to get outside playing.”
BP (1-1 overall) broke up Schwartz’s perfect game bid with one out in the fifth inning when Ryan Doerhoefer lined a single up the middle.
BP head coach Paul Peterson credited Southland and he hopes his team can get over the loss in time to focus on its next contest.
“They are a good hitting team,” Peterson said. “It’s not just the top half of their order, they can all hit the ball and they have good speed. I’m very impressed with them.”
Southland 2 4 8 0 0 — 14 13 1
BP 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 1 2
Southland pitching: Taylar Schwartz (W), 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 8 K
Southland hitting: Trent Reinartz, 3-for-4, triple, 3 R; Schwartz, 1-for-2, HR, 4 RBIs, BB, 2 R; Lukas Anderson, 2-for-3, HR, 4 RBIs, 3 R, SB; Paxton Gray, 0-for-3, BB; Ike Kloeckner, 0-for-3, BB, R; Jordan Heimer, 2-for-3, RBI, R, HBP; James Landherr, 1-for-3, R, HBP; Alex Ruechel, 2-for-3, double, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Nick Finbraaten, 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, R; Lucas Mandt, 0-for-1
BP pitching: Ryan Doerhoefer (L), 2 2/3 IP, 10 H, 2 BB, 12 R, 10 ER, 3 HBP; Scott Romeo, 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 ER, 1 K, 1 HBP
BP hitting: Hunter Rudlong, 0-for-2; Sam Swenson, 0-for-2; Weston Fiebiger, 0-for-2; John Rumpza, 0-for-2; Doerhoefer, 1-for-2; Riley Olson, 0-for-2; Romeo, 0-for-2; Ethan Strunk, 0-for-2; Matthew Worke, 0-for-1