St. Thomas baseball split a Summit League doubleheader with Omaha on Saturday, losing the opener 12-10 before winning the second game, 9-8 on Saturday at Koch Diamond.
Omaha baseball defeated St. Thomas in the first game after a ninth-inning, three-run homer by first-year infielder Tanner Recchio.
St. Thomas (10-13, 5-3 Summit) clashed with in-conference opponent Omaha (8-20, 6-6 Summit), losing the weekend series 1-2 in St. Paul. After a week without action, the Tommies were handed 2 losses in a row. However, Omaha’s 4-game win streak was snapped in the third game.
The Tommies entered the bottom of the ninth inning in the first game down 12-7. A right-field blast by Recchio shortened the lead, yet Omaha was able to escape the game with a victory.
Recchio entered the game as a pinch-runner in the sixth inning and finished the day 1-for-2 with a season-high three runs batted in.
Tommies’ junior starter Walker Retz gave up a three-run home run that capped a monster six-run third inning. The right-handed starter gave up a total of eight earned runs in seven hits and a walk. Retz entered the game with a 5.34 ERA, though after the most recent outing, his ERA ballooned to 7.02.
St. Thomas started the second inning with a two-run single by senior infielder Mikey Gottschalk. An error in right field allowed the shortstop to reach third base and score a run on an RBI groundout by junior outfielder Brigs Richartz, entering the top frame of the third with a 4-0 lead.
Omaha proceeded to score in four consecutive innings.
The big blow occurred in the top of the third inning when senior designated hitter Noah Greise smashed a homer to left field that gave Omaha a 6-4 lead.
The Mavericks lineup scored a combined 11 unanswered runs after the Tommies’ strong start seemingly shutting the door to any possible comeback.
Tommies broke the trend in the bottom of the sixth inning with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch by Omaha’s junior right-handed pitcher Reed Scott. Omaha pitched its way out of the jam and completed the frame with an 11-5 lead.
The Tommies finished the game with 15 runners left on base.
After Omaha added another run in the eighth inning, Gottschalk inched St. Thomas closer with a two-run single in the bottom frame of the inning. He finished the ballgame with a season-high four runs batted in.
The Mavericks entered the ninth inning leading 12-7, and even after St. Thomas pushed 3 runs across, they escaped with a win.
St. Thomas’ relief pitchers combined for six innings and allowed four earned runs.
The Tommies and Mavericks finished their doubleheader against the Mavericks with a 9-8 victory to finish the series 1-2.
St. Thomas will hit the road and play the Iowa Hawkeyes on Wednesday, April 10 at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, followed by a conference series against Oral Roberts starting Monday, April 15 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Juan Del Valle can be reached at delv9625@stthomas.edu.