Pitcher Ryan Zimmerman threw a complete game, but it was not enough as the St. Thomas baseball team fell to Bethel 3-2 Friday in a MIAC tournament elimination game at Becker Park in Collegeville.
The Royals (33-9) advance to take on Macalester on Saturday who they will need to beat twice to claim the MIAC playoff title and automatic NCAA bid, while the Tommies (26-16) have to wait until the brackets come out on Monday to learn if their season will continue.
“Zimmy threw a really nice ball game,” St. Thomas coach Chris Olean said. “He did more than enough to let us win that game but we just didn’t get that big hit.”
The only St. Thomas runs against Bethel came in the fifth inning, when first baseman Hunter Hart scored on a wild pitch and catcher Logan Kohorst lined a single to right field, plating right fielder Joe Burnley.
The Royals scored both the tying and go-ahead runs in the next half inning on back-to-back singles up the middle by left fielder Mitch Butvilas and center fielder Sam Horner.
Bethel also scored the opening run of the game when first baseman Brett Neville singled to center field, driving in designated hitter Bryce Marquardt from second base.
“Tonight was honestly probably the best I’ve felt all season out there,” Zimmerman said. “Besides some breaking balls early in the game that leaked over the middle plate, I felt really good out there.”
Zimmerman finished 11 strikeouts on the night.
With the NCAA tournament bracket scheduled to be announced at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Olean characterized the team’s chances of making the field as 50/50 at best.
“It’s going to require some things to happen,” Olean said. “We have definitely taken it out of our own hands.”
If the Tommies’ season is over, Zimmerman is going to miss being around his teammates.
“I wouldn’t trade any of these guys for anything, I love every single one of them,” Zimmerman said. “We had a really tight group and I’m going to miss it if this is it.”
Taylor Smith can be reached at smit9660@stthomas.edu.