University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, March 4
St. Louis, Mo.
12:00 p.m. Central
at
Saint Louis
Photo by: Collin Boyles
Part of schedule change, Baseball to face Saint Louis March 4-5 for three-game series
3/2/2023 9:30:00 AM | Baseball
St. Paul, Minn. -- St. Thomas Baseball travels to the Gateway to the West for a three-game series March 4-5 at Saint Louis in St. Louis, Mo.
The Tommies and Billikens, originally scheduled to play March 3-5, will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. followed by a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. from the Billiken Sports Center.
Tommie Double Header (Last Time Out)
• St. Thomas continued the 2023 campaign travelling to Sacramento State for a series Feb. 24-26.
• The Tommies and Hornets had the opening and closing game of the series washed out due to rain, turning the series into a doubleheader.
• UST lost both games Saturday, by final scores of 2-0 and 10-1.
• Junior Kolby Gartner threw a complete game in the opener recording 8.0 IP, tossing four strikeouts, and only allowing four hits with one earned run.
• Gartner recorded his third career complete game and allowed just five baserunners for SSU for the entire game.
• For the third time of the season, Brigs Richartz led off the game for a hit, recording his first double of the season in the first game.
• Game One wrapped up with a lead-off single by SSU in the fifth inning setting up an unearned run off a balk and passed ball, and then the final Hornet run was scored on a lead-off home run in the sixth inning.
• In Game Two, Ben Vujovich recorded the first Tommie hit of the game with a single up the middle in the top of the second inning, before a double play shut down the Purple's momentum.
• The Tommies left six runners stranded while the pitching staff kept 12 Hornets baserunners stranded through the game.
• Four pitchers combined to finish the game for St. Thomas and threw 12 strikeouts while allowing nine hits and 12 walks.
Richartz Hitting Streak
• Since Brigs Richartz led off the season with a single to center field on the very first pitch, he's recorded hits in every game of the season (6-for-6) and scored four runs over the Tommies six games, including a career high three runs in the game three win vs. CSB.
• Richartz has two multi-hit games so far this season, batting 2-for-4 and 3-for-5 in those games, bringing his total hit count to nine on the season, leading the Tommies.
• For the third time of the season, Richartz led off the game for a hit, recording his first double of the season in the first game at Sacramento State.
• Richartz is currently tied for eighth in the Summit League with a .375 batting average and tied for 10th with nine hits.
The Vos Show
• Sophomore Joe Vos led off the top of the third inning against Sac State with a solo home run, the Tommies' first home run of the season.
• The home run also marked the first of Vos' career and moved him to fourth on the team in slugging percentage (.400).
St. Thomas' Pitching Success
• Kolby Gartner tossed eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings during game one, totaling seven through the first 4.0 frames. He allowed just seven baserunners through 13.1 innings and has recorded 12 K's while only allowing six hits and four earned runs on the season.
• Jacob Mrosko took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in game two (Feb.16) and allowed three walks through 5.0 innings.
• Evan Esch (1-0) maintains a 3.86 ERA on the season through seven innings pitched, allowing only three earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven opposing batters. Has the Tommies first pitching win of the season on Feb. 18 in a 8-4 win versus CSB.
Next Up for the Tommies
• The Tommies have the Saint Louis Billikens (4-3) next up on the schedule, heading to Missouri for a three-game slate.
• Saint Louis started the year off getting swept by Marshall before sweeping the Minnesota Golden Gophers to set their record at an even 3-3, before beating Southern Illinois 11-3 on Tuesday to get the Billikens over the .500 mark.
• SLU scored an average of 10 runs a game in the series against the Gophers, including a 16-run performance on Feb.26 where the team tallied 12 hits, a nine-run ninth inning, and four extra base hits.
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.
Sixth Inning Blues
• The Tommies have allowed 37 runs this season, 16 of which have come in the sixth inning. The second and eighth innings have not been kind either, as 30 of the 37 runs allowed have come in those three frames combined.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Baseball, follow along on Twitter at @tommiebase and Instagram at @tommiebaseball
The Tommies and Billikens, originally scheduled to play March 3-5, will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. followed by a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. from the Billiken Sports Center.
Tommie Double Header (Last Time Out)
• St. Thomas continued the 2023 campaign travelling to Sacramento State for a series Feb. 24-26.
• The Tommies and Hornets had the opening and closing game of the series washed out due to rain, turning the series into a doubleheader.
• UST lost both games Saturday, by final scores of 2-0 and 10-1.
• Junior Kolby Gartner threw a complete game in the opener recording 8.0 IP, tossing four strikeouts, and only allowing four hits with one earned run.
• Gartner recorded his third career complete game and allowed just five baserunners for SSU for the entire game.
• For the third time of the season, Brigs Richartz led off the game for a hit, recording his first double of the season in the first game.
• Game One wrapped up with a lead-off single by SSU in the fifth inning setting up an unearned run off a balk and passed ball, and then the final Hornet run was scored on a lead-off home run in the sixth inning.
• In Game Two, Ben Vujovich recorded the first Tommie hit of the game with a single up the middle in the top of the second inning, before a double play shut down the Purple's momentum.
• The Tommies left six runners stranded while the pitching staff kept 12 Hornets baserunners stranded through the game.
• Four pitchers combined to finish the game for St. Thomas and threw 12 strikeouts while allowing nine hits and 12 walks.
Richartz Hitting Streak
• Since Brigs Richartz led off the season with a single to center field on the very first pitch, he's recorded hits in every game of the season (6-for-6) and scored four runs over the Tommies six games, including a career high three runs in the game three win vs. CSB.
• Richartz has two multi-hit games so far this season, batting 2-for-4 and 3-for-5 in those games, bringing his total hit count to nine on the season, leading the Tommies.
• For the third time of the season, Richartz led off the game for a hit, recording his first double of the season in the first game at Sacramento State.
• Richartz is currently tied for eighth in the Summit League with a .375 batting average and tied for 10th with nine hits.
The Vos Show
• Sophomore Joe Vos led off the top of the third inning against Sac State with a solo home run, the Tommies' first home run of the season.
• The home run also marked the first of Vos' career and moved him to fourth on the team in slugging percentage (.400).
St. Thomas' Pitching Success
• Kolby Gartner tossed eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings during game one, totaling seven through the first 4.0 frames. He allowed just seven baserunners through 13.1 innings and has recorded 12 K's while only allowing six hits and four earned runs on the season.
• Jacob Mrosko took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in game two (Feb.16) and allowed three walks through 5.0 innings.
• Evan Esch (1-0) maintains a 3.86 ERA on the season through seven innings pitched, allowing only three earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven opposing batters. Has the Tommies first pitching win of the season on Feb. 18 in a 8-4 win versus CSB.
Next Up for the Tommies
• The Tommies have the Saint Louis Billikens (4-3) next up on the schedule, heading to Missouri for a three-game slate.
• Saint Louis started the year off getting swept by Marshall before sweeping the Minnesota Golden Gophers to set their record at an even 3-3, before beating Southern Illinois 11-3 on Tuesday to get the Billikens over the .500 mark.
• SLU scored an average of 10 runs a game in the series against the Gophers, including a 16-run performance on Feb.26 where the team tallied 12 hits, a nine-run ninth inning, and four extra base hits.
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.
Sixth Inning Blues
• The Tommies have allowed 37 runs this season, 16 of which have come in the sixth inning. The second and eighth innings have not been kind either, as 30 of the 37 runs allowed have come in those three frames combined.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Baseball, follow along on Twitter at @tommiebase and Instagram at @tommiebaseball
Players Mentioned
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