University of St. Thomas Athletics
Minnesota
Wow! Baseball surprises Gophers, wins 6-3
4/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Junior pitcher Brandon Stone retired all four batters he faced in relief and the No. 7-ranked Tommie baseball team surprised the Minnesota Gophers with a 6-3 win Tuesday night in a nine-inning non-conference game at Siebert Field.
The Tommies (24-8) had lost 16 in a row against the Gophers (27-13) over the last 22 seasons. In fact, MIAC teams had lost nearly 50 in a row to Minnesota since 1987 when the Toms and Auggies each split doubleheaders with the Gophers.
The Toms had two near misses against the Gophers previously in the Dennis Denning era -- a 2-1 loss in 1999 and a 10-9 walk-off defeat in 1996.
UST, which outhit the U of M 11-7, stranded 10 runners but played error-free defense. Junior Matt Schuld improved to 7-1 on the season as he limited the Gophers to three runs over six innings and left with a 5-3 lead. Schuld allowed three runs, six hits and four walks with five strikeouts. Senior Brady Gibbs worked 1 2-3 innings and allowed a hit and two walks.
The Gophers committed five errors and left nine runners on base, including six in scoring position. The U of M used seven different pitchers to get work for the weekend conference games. Minnesota's Justin Gorminsky slugged a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
The Tommies scored three runs in the top of the first and never trailed. Roy Larson, Tom Wippler and Matt McQuillan each had two hits and Larson and Taylor Rahm each drove in two runs. McQuillan reached base in four of five plate appearances and scored twice.
Click here for box score:
http://www.tommiesports.com/bsbl/stats/minn40.htm
Click here to access live stats box score:
http://www.gophersports.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400
St. Thomas will finish the conference regular season with a Wednesday doubleheader at St. Mary's (2:30 p.m.) and a Saturday home twinbill against Gustavus (1 p.m.).
The Toms (12-4 MIAC), looking to secure an unprecedented seventh consecutive conference championship, have a one-game lead over St. Olaf (11-5) and two-game lead on Carleton (9-5).
UST also is scheduled to play a nine-inning game Sunday in Duluth at No. 3-ranked St. Scholastica, and is scheduled to close the regular-season at home May 5 with one nine-inning game against Northwestern.
To view more Greg Smith action photos, click here:
Tom Wippler lays down a bunt. (Greg Smith photo)
Dan Leslie gets a putout at third base. UST infielders had 21 assists or putouts without an error. (Greg Smith photo)
Brady Field singles. (Greg Smith photo)
Louie Salmen (5) turns a double play. (Greg Smith photo)
Matt Olson makes a diving catch in left field. (Greg Smith photo)
Matt McQuillan reached with two hits, a walk and an HBP. (Greg Smith photo)
Tom Wippler has just one error in 244 chances. (Greg Smith photo)
