Leathernecks take both games over Tommies Tuesday

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Ben Vujovich totaled four hits and Walker Retz set a season high in strikeouts Tuesday as St. Thomas Baseball fell in both games of a doubleheader at Western Illinois, 5-2 and 8-2, in Macomb, Ill.

Game One – L, 5-2

Ben Vujovich led off the top of the first inning with a single for the first of the Toms' six hits in the game. A walk and hit by pitch with two outs loaded the bases before a line out ended the scoring threat.

Walker Retz (1-5) opened the defensive effort with four strikeouts over the first four outs but a walk and hit by pitch set up an RBI double in the first inning for a 1-0 Western Illinois lead. Retz finished 6.1 innings with a season-high seven strikeouts.

Back at the top of the order, Vujovich led off the third inning with a double followed by an RBI double by Max Moris to tie the game, 1-1. The Tommies reached base and left runners stranded during three of the final five innings.

The Tommies added their final run during the top of the seventh inning as Sam Kulesa led off with a double and was brought home on an RBI sac bunt by Vujovich. The Leathernecks added two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh while putting on one St. Thomas baserunner between the eighth and ninth innings.

Vujovich finished 2-of-4 from the plate and had a part in both team runs with an RBI and a run scored. Also contributing to the Tommies' hits were Dylan O'Connell and Joe Vos.

Game Two – L, 8-2

The Leathernecks took another early lead in game two, this time scoring one run on back-to-back hits to lead off the second inning.

Brigs Richartz led off the top of the fourth inning with a single and was moved to third base on an error. Joe Vos followed two at-bats later to tie the game 1-1 with a sacrifice fly. WIU followed to score at least two runs over each of the next three innings.

The final St. Thomas run scored with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, led off by a single from Kulesa. After stealing second base, Kulesa came in to score on an RBI double by Matthew Enck to cut the deficit to six, 8-2.

The Tommies left runners on base during six of nine innings with a total of eight left on through the game. Vujovich recorded two hits for the second straight game and Owen Marsh (0-3) took the loss after throwing 4.1 innings with four strikeouts and one walk, eight hits, and six earned runs allowed.

The St. Thomas and Western Illinois series moves to St. Paul, Minn., for the finale Friday, May 12, in which WIU will serve as the home team. The Tommies return as the home club for a doubleheader Saturday followed by the Summit League season finale Sunday at Koch Diamond.

Follow Along

For more information on St. Thomas Baseball, follow along on Twitter at @tommiebase and on Instagram at @TommieBaseball

-- St. Thomas Athletics --

Next Event

Team Stats

Ben Vujovich

Max Moris

Dylan O'Connell

Joe Vos

Players Mentioned

Matthew Enck

Sam Kulesa

Owen Marsh

Max Moris

Dylan O'Connell

Walker Retz

Brigs Richartz

Joe Vos

Ben Vujovich