The St. Thomas baseball team opened conference play with two victories in a doubleheader matchup against Hamline Saturday, March 31, at the Metrodome. Sophomore pitcher Steve Maher played a key role in the Tommies’ 3-1 victory in the first game, and the team rallied in extra innings to take the second game 5-4.

Game One

The Tommies got their bats swinging early in the game. The team had three hits and scored three runs in the first inning giving it an early edge over the Pipers.

Maher did not allow Hamline any hits until the fifth inning when the Tommie fielders were unable to get the runner out, resulting in the Pipers’ first and only score.

Coach Chris Olean said Maher’s pitching was “the big thing” for the first game.

“(He) threw the heck out of the ball again, and they just couldn’t do much with him,” Olean said.

Maher was recognized as this week’s MIAC Pitcher of the Week, an honor Olean believes is well-deserved.

“He just goes out there and throws, and that’s what makes him good,” Olean said. “He has a plan, and he sticks to it. A lot of times if he is executing his pitches, there’s not a lot the other team can do.”

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Maher allowed two hits that left runners on first and third base with two outs. However, Hamline hit a pop fly to center field to give St. Thomas the 3-1 victory.

Game Two

The Tommies started the second game with one hit and no runs. Senior pitcher Bryce Gapinski started and allowed three Piper hits in the first inning, resulting in one run for Hamline.

Though Maher pitched the entire first game, the Tommies went to their bullpen early and often in the second game. Senior pitcher John Licht was brought in during the fourth inning, sophomore Jacob Nelson pitched the fifth and freshman Greg Clute pitched the sixth but was relieved by sophomore Mark Ulrich later that inning. Junior Josh Kubitschek pitched the seventh, and sophomore Tommy Danczyk finished the final extra inning.

The seventh inning was when the Tommies’ bats started to heat up. Junior pitcher Dylan Thomas hit a triple and was batted in by freshman third baseman Adam LaMere, tying the score at 3-3. Senior third baseman Charles Bruchu hit a single, which brought LaMere home to take a one-run lead.

Hamline scored once more run in the seventh inning, bringing the game to extra innings.

St. Thomas was in scoring position after freshman outfielder Jack Hogan and sophomore shortstop Sam Miller both got hits, landing them on first and third base. Sophomore third baseman Mike Jones then loaded the bases for the Tommies after being walked.

Freshman outfielder Ben Podobinski had a chance to bat in the winning run, but Hogan was tagged out at home. Sophomore outfielder Tim Kuzniar then hit a single, sealing the 5-4 victory.

Olean said he has seen better ball games but was still pleased with his team’s competitive effort.

“I don’t think we played a very good ball game,” Olean said. “But the thing that I was proud of was that they continued to battle and battle and battle despite the fact they weren’t playing well.”

Josie Oliver can be reached at oliv4246@stthomas.edu.