University of St. Thomas Athletics
St. Scholastica
Baseball falls 2-1 at regions, ends season 28-18
5/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BY DOUG HENNES
WHITEWATER, Wis. - The unexpected carom of a baseball off a helmet led to the winning run and ended St. Thomas' baseball season, 2-1, to St. Scholastica Friday in the NCAA regional playoffs.
With the score tied 1-1 in the sixth inning, speedster Joe Link led off with a single for the Saints. It was clear that Link would try to steal second, having recorded 42 stolen bases in 42 attempts this season.
The throw from Tommie catcher J.D. Dorgan was on the bag, and a clean tag might have nabbed Link for the first time in 2011. But the ball hit Link on the helmet and flipped into left-center. He jumped up and ran home with the lead - and as it turned out, the winning - run.
"That's baseball," shrugged senior Kris Edwards, who pitched a solid game for the Tommies but came up short in another 2-1 NCAA playoff game (a year ago, UW-Stevens Point beat St. Thomas and Edwards by the same score). "I thought J.D.'s throw had him (Link), but it was just a matter of inches."
The Tommies finished the season at 28-19 - going 20-6 after an 8-13 start - and in the process won their ninth consecutive MIAC title and qualified for the NCAA playoffs for the 16th time in 17 years.
"Don't hang your heads," coach Chris Olean said after the loss, telling the Tommies he was proud of the way they turned around the season. "You show a lot by the way you played this year."
"I told the guys after the Florida trip (4-7 in 11 games) that I wasn't sure what would happen," Edwards said. "But we pulled things together, won the MIAC and got back here for the playoffs."
Olean also thanked the Tommies' nine seniors for their leadership, especially after the slow start, and congratulated them on a 138-49 four-year record that included four MIAC titles, four trips to the regionals and a national title in 2009.
On Friday, St. Scholastica freshman Andy Davis pitched a complete game in outdueling Edwards, who gave up nine singles. The Tommies mounted only one threat, in the fourth inning, and could muster only seven hits off Davis.
The Saints opened scoring in the second on a single, sacrifice bunt and single, and St. Thomas tied the game in the fourth when Tayler Rahm's double drove in Dorgan from first. The Tommies would have had two runs but Drew Cremisino was picked off second on the previous pitch. Rahm was stranded at second and the Tommies could manage only two singles the rest of the way.
"We needed more two-out hits today," said Olean, pointing out that the Tommies had only one leadoff hitter on base all day. "We just couldn't put together enough hits."
Click here for UST-St. Scholastica box score:
http://www.uwwsports.com/custompages/baseball/2011/ncaa8.htm
NOTES: Seven of the nine regional games thus far have been decided by one run... UST lost both regional games by one run for the second year in a row.
Friday's Games
Game 7: UW-Stevens Point 5, Hamline 1 (Hamline out)
Game 8: St. Scholastica 2, St. Thomas 1 (lSt. Thomas out)
Game 9: UW-Whitewater 2, UW-Stevens Point 1 (Point out)
Saturday's Games
Game 10, Noon: UW-Whitewater vs. St. Scholastica
Game 11:, 3 p.m.: Rematch if St. Scholastica wins Game 10
