Xavier Coach Dave Schemmel gave Alex Ries some good advice this week. It paid off Tuesday.

Ries stroked a clean RBI single to left field to break a 6-6 tie and give the Saints a 7-6 victory over Linn-Mar in the first game of a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at Ken Charipar Field.

Linn-Mar won the nightcap, 10-1.

Xavier collected 13 hits in the opener, none bigger than the game-winning hit by Ries that scored Nathan Even from third base.

"All week Coach was preaching, 'Get the front foot down and see the ball and just watch the ball off the bat,' " Ries said. "I just saw the pitch and hit it."

Ean McNeal pitched a complete game for Xavier in the opener, allowing five hits. Jacob Stolley tossed a complete game for Linn-Mar.

Jordan Stroschien powered Linn-Mar in the second game with four RBIs, including a three-run double in the fourth inning that gave the Lions a 7-1 lead. Nate Greve went the distance for Linn-Mar, allowing one run on six hits.

Greve, a lefty, kept the Xavier hitters off-balance with a good fastball and shifty cutter. "He had a nice little cutter, and you have to give him credit because he made us work for everything," Schemmel said.

Both teams play again Wednesday. Xavier visits Davenport West and Linn-Mar hosts Northeast Goose Lake.

GAME 1

LINN-MAR (6)
Travis Kvach, rf, 4 1 0 0, Ben Larison, ss, 4 1 0 0, Michael Redmond, cf, 4 0 2 3, Jordan Stroschein, lf, 4 0 0 0, Jeremy Danover, c, 3 1 0 0, Kevin Bogert, 1b, 3 1 0 0, Austin Stroschein, 3b, 3 1 1 2, Corey Prokop, 2b, 3 0 2 1, Keaton Blackford, dh, 3 1 0 0. Totals 31 6 5 6.

XAVIER (7)
Blake Helms, ss, 4 2 2 0, Corbin Woods, 3b, 4 2 2 0, Nathan Even, 2b, 4 3 3 1, Mac Mattke, 1b, 4 0 3 2, Alex Ries, cf, 4 0 1 2, Kevin Hosch, dh, 3 0 0 0, Eric Zenisek, rf, 3 0 0 0, Dane Mehring, lf, 3 0 1 1, Colby Brecht, c, 3 0 1 0. Totals 32 7 13 6.

Stolley and Danover. McNeal and Brecht. W - McNeal. L - Stolley.

GAME 2

LINN-MAR (10)
Nate Greve, p, 5 2 1 1, Ben Larison, ss, 5 1 1 0, Michael Redmond, cf, 5 1 2 0, Jordan Stroschein, lf, 4 1 1 4, Jeremy Danover, c, 4 0 1 1, Mitchell Stickney, rf, 4 1 0 0, Eric Bohr, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Jacob Stolley, 1b, 4 2 1 2. Totals 35 10 8 8.

XAVIER (1)
Blake Helms, ss, 4 0 0 0, Corbin Woods, 3b, 3 0 2 0, Nathan Even, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Mac Mattke, 1b, 3 1 1 0, Alex Ries, cf, 3 0 3 0, Kevin Hosch, p, 3 0 0 0, Eric Zenisek, rf, 2 0 0 0, Colby Brecht, c, 3 0 0 1, Dane Mehring, p, 1 0 0 0.

Greve and Danover. Hosch, Hines (4), Mattke (5), Mehring (7) and Brecht. W- Greve. L - Hosch.