Junior pitcher Bryce Gapinski’s strong performance helped keep the St. Thomas baseball team alive in the NCAA tournament Thursday as the Tommies ended Aurora’s season with an 8-3 victory in Whitewater, Wis.
Gapinski, the Tommies’ All-Conference ace, held Aurora to one run in seven innings pitched, striking out two and walking none.
“I was spotting both my fastball and curve ball pretty well and getting at those hitters,” Gapinski said. “Throwing strike one is one of the biggest keys to my success.”
Senior Drew Cremisino’s double in the first inning brought home senior Tim Kahle and junior Charles Bruchu. Cremisino, who had four runs batted in on the game, scored on freshman J.D. Dorgan’s ground-rule double to give St. Thomas an early 3-0 lead.
Aurora answered back in the second when Mike Foley ripped an RBI single to left field, bringing in Josh Davidson. Davidson, who singled up the middle and stole second base, went 2-4 on the day.
The Tommies kept control of their lead, scoring one run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Kahle, Cremisino and MIAC player of the year Tayler Rahm got the runs batted in.
Freshman Mark Ulrich came in for Gapinski to close out the eighth and ninth inninngs. Ulrich was able to force Aurora into a one-two-three inning in the eighth, and allowed a lone run and two hits in the ninth. Ulrich and Gapinski held Aurora to five total hits on the game.
St. Thomas’ seniors carried the offense, accounting for six of the seven runs batted in and seven of the team’s 11 hits. The Tommies added to their lead in the eighth, picking up two runs on an RBI fielder’s choice from Cremisino and a throwing error by second basemen Anthony Amedei.
“We’ve had some really good defensive play by our seniors,” Gapinski said. “Those guys are definitely leading us down the stretch.”
The Tommies will play another elimination game tomorrow at 1 p.m. against St. Scholastica, a team that beat them 10-6 in the first game of the season.
“[Kris] Edwards is going to have to throw a good game tomorrow,” Gapinski said. “Scholastica has used up both of their top pitchers, so I feel like we have good odds against them.”
Ryan Shaver contributed to this story.
Alex Keil can be reached at amkeil@stthomas.edu.