Junior first baseman Ryan Lust waits for the ball to be delivered. (Justin Amaker/TommieMedia)
After a 12-6 win by the St. Thomas baseball team in the first game of the doubleheader that ended a five-game losing streak, the Tommies swept the Augsburg Auggies with a 11-1 win Saturday at Koch Diamond.
With this sweep, the Tommies (19-16, 11-9 MIAC) now move up to fifth place in the conference. The Tommies have lost eight of their last 11 games.
“We hit the ball consistently in both games, something that we’ve been missing for a couple weeks,” coach Chris Olean said. “It’s kind of bittersweet. (We’re) happy to win two more MIAC games even though it didn’t really mean much for us.”
The Tommies honored the nine seniors with a ceremony featuring their parents, teammates and coaches before the second game.
“It’s pretty sad,” senior right fielder Evan Kolker said. “But we have a great group of guys here and made a lot of good friends that will stick around for a while.”
Left-hand pitcher Graham Laubsher started off the game at the mound, giving one hit to the Auggies (8-27, 4-16 MIAC) in the first inning. The Tommies struck out twice and grounded out once in the first inning.
The Tommies picked up quickly in the second inning, with six hits leading them to score six runs. After a string of events, a double RBI by junior designated hitter Josh Thorp allowed Kolker and first baseman Ryan Lust to bring in two runs.
A double RBI by center fielder Avery Lehman brought in two more runs by Thorp and second baseman Dan Bollingberg. Shortstop Kyle Halverson put in an RBI single to allow Lehman to score, followed by Lust with an RBI single allowing Halverson to score after he stole second and advanced to third after a pitcher throwing error.
Junior second baseman Dan Bollingberg and senior right fielder Evan Kolker watch as sophomore left hand pitcher Graham Laubsher delivers the ball. (Justin Amaker/TommieMedia)
After a single by Bollingberg in the third inning, a home run by Thorp gave the Tommies two more runs before a pitching change by the Auggies. One more hit by catcher Jake Husnick was put in during the inning under the Auggies’ new pitcher.
The Tommies stayed quiet until the fifth inning when Bollingberg singled, later advancing to second on a wild pitch. A single RBI by Husnick allowed Bollingberg to score one more run.
“It was fun,” Bollingberg said. “Seeing the ball well, having a few balls drop that you don’t necessarily hit great, but having to work well is always fun.”
The Auggies’ single run was made in the sixth inning, which was a solo home run by senior shortstop Clayton Bodine.
After another Auggie pitching change in the seventh, Lust reached first base in a throwing error then later proceeded to steal second. Kolker’s groundout to first base allowed Lust to advance to third base, allowing him to score during Bollingberg’s single to left field.
Fans took advantage of the sunny afternoon to watch one of the final baseball games of the season. (Justin Amaker/TommieMedia)
Laubsher pitched until the eighth inning, when right hand pitcher Shaun Falbo took the mound to close the game. Laubsher gave up one run and three hits to the Auggies during his time on the mound.
“My (pitching) was working pretty well today,” Laubsher said. “So that was good to see and to end the season on a high note.”
After another string of events, Lust singled to left field with the bases loaded, allowing Lehman to put in one more run for the Tommies to finish the game.
St. Thomas will play a doubleheader against Wartburg in their final regular season game Monday at 1 p.m. at Koch Diamond.
Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.