Fifth-year ace Graham Laubscher was tagged for eight earned runs over two innings as the St. Thomas baseball team lost 12-0 to the University of Minnesota at U.S. Bank Stadium on Tuesday.
After Laubscher was pulled from the game, eight St. Thomas pitchers combined for three earned runs and six hits over the final seven innings. The Tommies (2-6, 0-0 Summit) were swinging free all game, only striking out once but not walking at all.
“Offensively, we’re better than the three or four hits we had,” coach Chris Olean said. “They’re a Big Ten team and they acted like one today.”
The St. Thomas pitching staff gave up five home runs on the night to the Gophers (3-6, 0-0 Big Ten) as senior catcher Chase Stankey belted two, driving in five runs.
“Apparently, this is a hitter’s park,” Olean said. “Who knew?”
First-year pitcher Bryce Leedle pitched a scoreless fifth in his first appearance of the season. Leedle struck out two, walked one and hit one batter. Sophomore Jeremy Klick and junior Will Nigut also pitched scoreless frames.
“It’s good seeing a lot of pitchers get playing time,” junior catcher Charlie Bartholomew said. “Kind of getting those butterflies out of the stomach.”
Bartholomew had two hits on the night, making up half of the Tommies’ total hits. He also caught all nine frames.
“Our pitching is definitely the strength of our team,” Olean said. “It’s tough when we get in a hole early because runs are so premium.”
The loss brings the Tommies to 2-19 against the Gophers, who they haven’t played since 2012. St. Thomas last beat Minnesota in April 2011.
The Tommies are slated to play Creighton University Friday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. in Omaha, Nebraska.
Sam Larson can be reached at lars4378@stthomas.edu.