University of St. Thomas Athletics
University of New Mexico
Tommies set for four-game series against New Mexico
2/26/2026 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
Tommies and Lobos face off for first time in program history
ST. PAUL, MINN.- The St. Thomas baseball team (2-5) is set to travel to New Mexico to take on the University of New Mexico Lobos (8-0) for a four-game series.
Game One: February, 27th 3 p.m. CT
Game Two: February, 28th: 1 p.m. CT
Game Three: February, 28th: 4 p.m. CT
Game Four: March 1st: 12 p.m. CT
Live streams for games one and four will be available on the Mountain West Network (linked on schedule). Games two and three will be live statistics only (linked on schedule).
Be sure to follow along for live stats and radio through links found at tommiesports.com/sports/baseball/schedule – and on Twitter @TommieBase and Instagram at @TommieBaseball.
History between the two squads
This weekend will be the first time in program history that the Tommies and Lobos face off. St. Thomas has traveled to New Mexico in previous years to take on New Mexico State, but this weekend marks the first time in Albuquerque taking on the University of New Mexico.
Last time out
Despite chilly temperatures down in St. Charles, Missouri, the Tommie were able to get in three of the four scheduled games against the Lindenwood Lions. The Purple went 1-2 on the weekend, falling in the first game 4-2 and the finale game 6-0.
The Tommies had a bright spot in the middle of the series as they downed the Lions 8-2 in game two of the doubleheaders.
Freshman Owen Marsolek got the start and the win on the bump tossing 7.0 innings, picking up eight strikeouts and only allowing one run.
On the offensive side, six different Tommie tallied a hit in the win. Highlighted by doubles from Chris Knowles, Owen Bond, and Adam Puder, a triple from Tanner Recchio, and a Puder homerun.
Summit League Preseason Poll
The St. Thomas baseball team was selected to finish second (tied with Omaha) in the 2026 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released on Wednesday.
Oral Roberts was picked to finish first with 24 points and four first place votes, Omaha was also picked to finish second with 19 points and 2 first place votes. The reigning regular season champions St. Thomas was also picked to finish second with 19 points.
Senior duo of Joe Roder and Max Skilbeck were selected as the St. Thomas players to watch.
Roder, a senior infielder from New Prague, Minn. made 49 appearances and 48 starts, recorded a .303 batting average with a team high of 16 doubles and 53 RBI, along with five home run. Roder was named an All-Summit League honorable mention in 2025 after leading all Summit League players with 11 doubles and 35 RBI in league play.
Skilbeck, a right-handed pitcher out of Minneapolis, Minn. Appeared in 17 games out of the bullpen, fanning 36 in 25.1 innings of work. Skilbeck tallied a team high five saves in Summit League action.
A look back at 2025
Last season, St. Thomas won it's second consecutive Summit League championship in the D1-era. The Tommies finished the season 29-21 overall, and 21-9 in conference play, posting their best record of the D1-era.
Tommie baseball earned nine All-Summit League team honors. Returner Matthew Maulik was selected as a All-Summit League first team member, recording 30 hits, four doubles, and six home runs, earning him his second Summit League honor.
Tanner Recchio was also named to the All-Summit league second team for his impressive sophomore season; Recchio ranked in the top five in the league in stolen bases (20) and runs (28).
2026 Roster
The Tommies welcomed 17 newcomers to the 2026 roster.
Leader of the pack
Head Coach Chris Olean enters his 17th season at the helm of the Tommie baseball program in 2026. Olean has totaled a 414-256-1 overall record (338-148-1 in NCAA Division III) since being named 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
Any and all information pertaining to the St. Thomas baseball team can be found at tommiesports.com and on Twitter @TommieBase and Instagram at @TommieBaseball.
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