Senior Graham Laubscher allowed three hits and zero runs in eight innings Sunday as the St. Thomas baseball team captured the MIAC regular season title and extended their winning streak to nine games in a 7-1 win over Concordia-Moorhead at Koch Diamond.
The win gives St. Thomas (17-2 MIAC, 23-5 overall) the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the MIAC playoffs, which provides 10 full days of rest until the Tommies first matchup at a neutral site in Collegeville.
“Getting that early bye really helps, allowing us to rest up, make sure we are fully healthy going into whoever we have to play,” Laubscher said. “It feels really good to hang another banner up there. We haven’t in the seniors’ time here.”
Redshirt first-year outfielder Jake Porter carried the St. Thomas offense with four hits and two RBIs.
The Tommies lead over the Cobbers (9-12 MIAC, 15-16 overall) was slim until the eighth inning when the flood gates opened up for a five-run inning.
“We just weren’t trying to press too much and just keep doing what we were doing, and eventually, we knew we would find some holes,” Porter said.
With the MIAC title up for grabs, Gustavus University put pressure on St. Thomas with its 6-4 win over St. Mary’s University Sunday.
Coach Chris Olean said he is happy for this year’s seniors because it’s their first regular season MIAC championship and the team’s first since 2017.
“Gustavus didn’t let up. They were on our tail the whole time and they won again today,” Olean said. “Knowing we had to win three to win it, they went in and did it so I was really pleased.”
St. Thomas has not lost a home game this season as the team prepares for its first MIAC playoff game on May 20.
Joey Swanson can be reached at swan5350@stthomas.edu.