Baseball sweeps UW-LaCrosse, 10-3 and 3-2

W, 10-3; W, 3-2

UW-LaCrosse (M), March 18, 2010

Junior Tayler Rahm drove in four runs with a 4-for-8 night at the plate as No. 1-ranked St. Thomas swept a Thursday night Metrodome doubleheader over UW-LaCrosse, 10-3 and 3-2.

UST (4-1) never trailed and got 21 hits in the doubleheader including hits from 12 different players. LaCrosse (0-2) got a pair of solo homers on the night but couldn't convert several game-two chances.

Rahm's walk-off, bases-loaded single with one out in the last of the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie and closed out the sweep.

Both starters pitched into the seventh inning -- lefthanders Bryce Gapinski for UST and Brandon Walczak for UWL. The Toms outhit the Eagles 10-9, and the Eagles left nine on base.

UST's Matt Olson was 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and Rahm was 2-for-4 with two RBI singles. Gapinksi allowed nine hits and four walks but fanned five in the complete-game win. Walczak worked 6 1-3 innings and allowed eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts.

LaCrosse scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game 2-2.

UST used three singles in the bottom of the seventh for the win. Drew Cremisino had a pinch-hit single and John Bauer reached on a fielder's choice. After an out, Steve Henes came on in relief. Olson singled to load the bases, and Rahm worked a 2-1 count and singled to center for the game winner.

The Eagles had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the third on a single and two walks, but a strikeout and line out to center stranded three.

UST scored two in the bottom of the third on a single by Bauer; a double to right by Matt McQuillan; a sacrifice fly by Olson; and Rahm's two-out single.

Brooks Braga hit a solo homer to left with one out in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 2-1. UWL had a single and that runner reached third on a two-out error but Gapinski got an inning-ending strikeout.

UST had runners at second and third with one out in the fourth but a strikeout and pop out stranded two.

LaCrosse got a single, a sac bunt and an RBI double in the sixth by Mickey Boyle, who was tagged out at trying to get a triple.

In the opener, the Toms outhoit LaCrosse 11-3. Tommie starter Kris Edwards allowed three runs and three hits in five innings with two strikeouts and one walk. John Licht pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

UST opened the first inning with a single by Matt McQuillan and a single to deep short by Olson. After a line out and fly out, Roy Larson drove home two runs with a double to right center.

The Eagles score two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a walk by Braga, a fly out, an RBI double to center by Matt Trucke, and an RBI single by Jay Fanta.

UST scored one in the top of the third on Rahm's leadoff triple off the right-field baggy and Tom Wippler's RBI double. Olson made a diving catch in right center to end the third inning and help maintain a 4-2 lead.

UST opened the fourth inning with three hits to build the lead to 6-2. Brady Field doubled to left, Tim Kahle doubled to right, and McQuillan had a two-run single to center. McQuillan later scored on Wippler's two-out double to the fence in left for a 7-2 lead.

LAX freshman Brett Jacobson homered to the top of the baggy in right in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-3.

UST scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning, keyed by Rahm's two-run single.

Starter Kris Edwards allowed three runs and three hits in five innings with two strikeouts and one walk. John Licht pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

The Tommies return to the Dome Saturday night for a 9:45 p.m. single game vs. No. 9-ranked Carthage.

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Team Stats

M. McQuillan

T. Rahm

T. Wippler

M. Olson

University of St. Thomas Athletics