University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saint Mary's
Baseball can't close out sweep, falls in game two
4/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
First-place St. Thomas couldn't hold a late-game lead and fell 5-4 in game two of Wednesday's baseball doubleheader at St. Mary's. The Toms won the opener 5-0.
The No. 7-ranked Tommies (25-9 overall, 13-5 MIAC), coming off Tuesday night's huge upset of Division I Minnesota, has a one-game lead on St. Olaf (11-5 MIAC) and a two-game lead on Carleton (9-5). Those teams were rained out Wednesday and have several twinbills left over the coming days.
The Toms finish the MIAC regular season Saturday at home vs. Gustavus (1 p.m. doubleheader) and can clinch at least a share of the championship with a sweep. UST now has four MIAC defeats in extra innings or by one run.
The Toms took a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning of game two and led 4-2 with one out to go before the Cardinals (8-23, 2-18) erupted with a double, a two-run single and a single off reliever Ryan Fahey. Brandon Stone came on to pitch but gave up a walk to load the bases and game-winning single by Brandon Haugh that ended a 17-game losing streak to St. Thomas.
UST received two quality starts. Senior Eric Olson allowed six hits and no walks over five innings in the opener. Freshman John Licht allowed three hits, one walk and one run in 4 2-3 innings.
Brian Schmitz went 2-for-2 with three runs in game two, including a home run and double. Tom Wippler also had two hits. In game one, Ben Wartman and Matt Olson each had two hits. But in game two, UST had two runners caught stealing, hit into two double plays, left four on base and committed two errors.
Click here for Game 1 box score:
http://www.saintmaryssports.com/custompages/baseball/2009/429ust-1.htm
Click here for game 2 box score:
http://www.saintmaryssports.com/custompages/baseball/2009/429ust-2.htm
