After a 1-0 win against the Wartburg Knights, the St. Thomas baseball team lost 6-1 to split a non-conference doubleheader in its final game of the season Monday at Koch Diamond.

The Tommies will end their season with a 20-17 overall record and 11-9 MIAC record, securing a fifth place spot in the conference.

“We were tight for a little bit, had some chances in the middle of the game and then (Wartburg) had that (three-run) spot. That was a little bit of bad luck,” coach Chris Olean said.

The Tommies’ sole run in the first game came from junior third baseman Dan Bollingberg after an RBI double by senior right fielder Evan Kolker. The second game’s sole run also came from Bollingberg, who played second base in the second game, after an RBI single by sophomore catcher Adam Krajewski.

“It’s been going well lately getting on base,” Bollingberg said. “It’s nice having the whole lineup work to get on.”

Kolker’s RBI double in the first game recorded his last college baseball hit, ending his season on a positive note despite the outcome of the second and final game.

“It sucks to end the season out on a loss,” Kolker said. “But it was a great group of guys, and I really enjoyed the season.”

The Knights (13-26 overall) scored three of their five runs in the fifth inning, once on a double RBI by junior right fielder Tyler Nunemaker with the bases loaded, followed by another double RBI from junior first baseman Manny Jeffery, allowing Nunemaker to score. Prior to that, they scored one run each in the second and fourth innings, one of those being a home run by freshman second baseman Jarod Harris. Their final run came in the seventh inning after an RBI single by Nunemaker.

The Tommies started the second game with senior right-hand pitcher Grant Gunderson on the mound, who gave up four runs and two hits. Sophomore right-hand pitcher Andrew Tri took over in the fifth inning and gave up four hits and two runs. Junior right-hand pitcher Shaun Falbo closed the game, giving up one run on one hit.

The Tommies were eliminated from the four-team MIAC playoffs after a ten day span of eight losses in April. Olean hopes to be more consistent in the offensive side next season.

“We have to develop a handful of these younger pitchers,” Olean said. “They have the ability to be out there but the polish piece needs to come around a little bit.”

Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.