University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, February 24
Sacramento, Calif.
6:00 p.m. Central
at
Sacramento State
Photo by: Collin Boyles
Baseball returns to California with four-game series at Sacramento State Feb. 24-26
2/23/2023 4:28:00 PM | Baseball
St. Paul, Minn. -- St. Thomas Baseball returns to the Golden State for the second time in as many weeks as it prepares for a four-game series Feb. 24-26 at Sacramento State.
The Tommies and Hornets will play at 6 p.m. Friday, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday at John Smith Field in Sacramento, Calif. All game times are in Central Standard Time.
Leading Off
• St. Thomas began the 2023 campaign 1-3 during Opening Weekend at CSU Bakersfield on Feb. 17-19.
• The Tommies fell in the first two games of the series by a combined 11-1 before coming away with an 8-4 win in game three of the four-game series.
• Junior Kolby Gartner (0-1) tossed eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings during game one, totaling seven through the first 4.0 frames. He allowed just two baserunners through five innings.
• The Roadrunners scored all three of its runs of game one during the bottom of the sixth inning.
• Sophomore Jacob Mrosko took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in game two before it was broken up on a one-out double down the left field line. Mrosko exited before three runs were scored in the sixth by CSUB.
• The Tommies scored first for the second time in the series in game three, as sophomore Brigs Richartz and junior Max Moris each scored in the top of the first inning. Richartz led off the third and ninth innings with a hit, leading to three-run frames for the Tommies. Sophomore Ben Vujovich and senior Charlie Bartholomew each recorded RBI singles in both the third and ninth innings as well, Vujovich's single in the third driving in two runs.
• The Roadrunners scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning during the final game of the series before going ahead, 7-1, through six innings. Two of CSUB's second-inning runs were scored on St. Thomas balks.
• Of CSUB's 25 runs in the series, 11 were scored in the sixth inning.
Leading Off in Style
• Brigs Richartz led off the season with a single to center field on the very first pitch.
• He recorded hits in every game and scored four runs over the final two games, including a career high three runs in the game three win.
• Richartz also led off game three with a hit in the third inning and the ninth inning, as the Tommies scored three runs in both frames of the win.
The RBI Machine
• Ben Vujovich reached base in all four games and recorded five RBI and three runs scored over the final two games.
• He went 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored in game three's win.
Promising Through Five
• St. Thomas' starting rotation, through the first five innings of the first three games, allowed just two earned runs, all coming in game three's win.
• Kolby Gartner tossed eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings during game one, totaling seven through the first 4.0 frames. He allowed just two baserunners through five innings.
• Jacob Mrosko took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in game two and allowed three walks through 5.0 innings.
• Evan Esch (1-0) finished 5.0 innings in game three's win and recorded four strikeouts with two walks allowed, before allowed another two walks to start the sixth inning.
A Look Back at 2022
• St. Thomas comes off a 16-29 overall record during the 2022 season, finishing fifth in the Summit League with a 10-14 record.
• The Tommies return 25 student-athletes from the 2022 roster and bring in 12 newcomers.
• The Tommies lost 16 games by one or two runs in 2022.
• St. Thomas earned notable wins over the 2022 Summit League Regular Season Champions North Dakota State, 6-0 on April 9 in St. Paul, Minn., and the Summit League Tournament Champions Oral Roberts, 4-3 on May 7 in Tulsa, Okla.
• In 2022 the Tommies ranked eighth in the nation with 208 earned runs allowed, tied for 20th with 10.27 K/9 Innings, tied for 34th with 8.42 H/9 Innings, tied for 52nd with a .974 fielding percentage, and tied for 82nd with an ERA of 4.90.
• The Tommies set a program record with 438 total strikeouts and in K/9 (10.27).
• St. Thomas garnered two player of the week and two pitcher of the week honors from the Summit League last season. Among the returners, Kolby Gartner was named the Pitcher of the Week once, Sam Kulesa the Player of the Week once and Brigs Richartz the Player of the Week once.
Making the Preseason Headlines
• Freshmen Dylan O'Connell (3B) and Nolan Kemp (RHP) were named the St. Thomas Player and Pitcher to Watch, as released in the 2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• St. Thomas was selected to finish fifth in the Summit Preseason Poll.
• Dylan O'Connell was named the 2023 Preseason Summit League Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game.
• Ben Vujovich was named to the 2023 Preseason Summit League All-Conference Team by Perfect Game.
Leading the Pack
• Chris Olean begins his 14th season with St. Thomas in 2023. He has totaled an overall record of 354-177-1 (339-148-1) in NCAA Division III) since being named the head coach prior to the 2010 season.
• Olean is a three-time NCAA DIII Region Coach of the Year and closed out its DIII era by winning championships in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and region en route to a national runner-up finish and 37-10 record.
• During the last 12 DIII seasons the Purple won eight MIAC Championships, capped by third-place national finishes in both 2012 and 2014, in addition to the runner-up finish in 2021.
• Olean mentored seven DIII All-American pitchers. He was voted MIAC and Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, and 2021. In addition, Olean works with the Tommie pitching staff, which was a perennial top-10 group in DIII baseball.
First Impressions
• St. Thomas will play six programs for the first time ever in 2023, including CSU Bakersfield, Sacramento State, Saint Louis, UIC, Kansas State, and Air Force. The Tommies will play all six opponents on the road and have already traveled to Bakersfield to play CSU, going 1-3 in the series.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Baseball, follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @tommiebase
The Tommies and Hornets will play at 6 p.m. Friday, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday at John Smith Field in Sacramento, Calif. All game times are in Central Standard Time.
Leading Off
• St. Thomas began the 2023 campaign 1-3 during Opening Weekend at CSU Bakersfield on Feb. 17-19.
• The Tommies fell in the first two games of the series by a combined 11-1 before coming away with an 8-4 win in game three of the four-game series.
• Junior Kolby Gartner (0-1) tossed eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings during game one, totaling seven through the first 4.0 frames. He allowed just two baserunners through five innings.
• The Roadrunners scored all three of its runs of game one during the bottom of the sixth inning.
• Sophomore Jacob Mrosko took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in game two before it was broken up on a one-out double down the left field line. Mrosko exited before three runs were scored in the sixth by CSUB.
• The Tommies scored first for the second time in the series in game three, as sophomore Brigs Richartz and junior Max Moris each scored in the top of the first inning. Richartz led off the third and ninth innings with a hit, leading to three-run frames for the Tommies. Sophomore Ben Vujovich and senior Charlie Bartholomew each recorded RBI singles in both the third and ninth innings as well, Vujovich's single in the third driving in two runs.
• The Roadrunners scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning during the final game of the series before going ahead, 7-1, through six innings. Two of CSUB's second-inning runs were scored on St. Thomas balks.
• Of CSUB's 25 runs in the series, 11 were scored in the sixth inning.
Leading Off in Style
• Brigs Richartz led off the season with a single to center field on the very first pitch.
• He recorded hits in every game and scored four runs over the final two games, including a career high three runs in the game three win.
• Richartz also led off game three with a hit in the third inning and the ninth inning, as the Tommies scored three runs in both frames of the win.
The RBI Machine
• Ben Vujovich reached base in all four games and recorded five RBI and three runs scored over the final two games.
• He went 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored in game three's win.
Promising Through Five
• St. Thomas' starting rotation, through the first five innings of the first three games, allowed just two earned runs, all coming in game three's win.
• Kolby Gartner tossed eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings during game one, totaling seven through the first 4.0 frames. He allowed just two baserunners through five innings.
• Jacob Mrosko took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in game two and allowed three walks through 5.0 innings.
• Evan Esch (1-0) finished 5.0 innings in game three's win and recorded four strikeouts with two walks allowed, before allowed another two walks to start the sixth inning.
A Look Back at 2022
• St. Thomas comes off a 16-29 overall record during the 2022 season, finishing fifth in the Summit League with a 10-14 record.
• The Tommies return 25 student-athletes from the 2022 roster and bring in 12 newcomers.
• The Tommies lost 16 games by one or two runs in 2022.
• St. Thomas earned notable wins over the 2022 Summit League Regular Season Champions North Dakota State, 6-0 on April 9 in St. Paul, Minn., and the Summit League Tournament Champions Oral Roberts, 4-3 on May 7 in Tulsa, Okla.
• In 2022 the Tommies ranked eighth in the nation with 208 earned runs allowed, tied for 20th with 10.27 K/9 Innings, tied for 34th with 8.42 H/9 Innings, tied for 52nd with a .974 fielding percentage, and tied for 82nd with an ERA of 4.90.
• The Tommies set a program record with 438 total strikeouts and in K/9 (10.27).
• St. Thomas garnered two player of the week and two pitcher of the week honors from the Summit League last season. Among the returners, Kolby Gartner was named the Pitcher of the Week once, Sam Kulesa the Player of the Week once and Brigs Richartz the Player of the Week once.
Making the Preseason Headlines
• Freshmen Dylan O'Connell (3B) and Nolan Kemp (RHP) were named the St. Thomas Player and Pitcher to Watch, as released in the 2023 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• St. Thomas was selected to finish fifth in the Summit Preseason Poll.
• Dylan O'Connell was named the 2023 Preseason Summit League Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game.
• Ben Vujovich was named to the 2023 Preseason Summit League All-Conference Team by Perfect Game.
Leading the Pack
• Chris Olean begins his 14th season with St. Thomas in 2023. He has totaled an overall record of 354-177-1 (339-148-1) in NCAA Division III) since being named the head coach prior to the 2010 season.
• Olean is a three-time NCAA DIII Region Coach of the Year and closed out its DIII era by winning championships in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and region en route to a national runner-up finish and 37-10 record.
• During the last 12 DIII seasons the Purple won eight MIAC Championships, capped by third-place national finishes in both 2012 and 2014, in addition to the runner-up finish in 2021.
• Olean mentored seven DIII All-American pitchers. He was voted MIAC and Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, and 2021. In addition, Olean works with the Tommie pitching staff, which was a perennial top-10 group in DIII baseball.
First Impressions
• St. Thomas will play six programs for the first time ever in 2023, including CSU Bakersfield, Sacramento State, Saint Louis, UIC, Kansas State, and Air Force. The Tommies will play all six opponents on the road and have already traveled to Bakersfield to play CSU, going 1-3 in the series.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Baseball, follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @tommiebase
Players Mentioned
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