St. Mary’s upset the top-seed Tommies 7-0 in the opening game of the double elimination MIAC Baseball Playoffs Thursday night in Collegeville.
Remarkably, this was the first time St. Thomas (25-14 overall, 14-6 MIAC) had been shutout in 67 games, with the last dating back to March 30, 2015. With Thursday’s loss, St. Thomas enters the losers’ bracket.
“I think we failed to simplify the game and make our battles as little as possible,” centerfielder Jake Smith said. “We need to celebrate those small victories throughout the game. We let the game get too big.”
Pitcher Eric Veglahn started for the Tommies, completing seven innings while allowing seven runs on 11 hits, including four doubles, one triple and one home run. Tommie coach Chris Olean said Veglahn has been a reliable pitcher for them all year but did not perform at his typical caliber. Veglahn’s record fell to 6-2.
Pitcher Ian Schwickert made an appearance from the bullpen, allowing no runs on two hits in his two innings of relief.
St. Mary’s starting pitcher Steph Scatassa completed a nine-inning shutout surrendering only four hits and retiring the last 10 St. Thomas batters, increasing his record to 7-2 on the season.
“Their starting pitcher did a real nice jump. He mixed up his pitches really well and worked ahead… you know a couple plays here and there, and then pretty soon it was out of reach for us,” Olean said.
The St. Thomas baseball team’s bats went cold as they failed to capitalize on their bases-loaded threat in the fifth inning. Smith, designated hitter Hunter Hart, third baseman Chad Clute and second baseman Zach Gottfredsen combined for St. Thomas’ only four hits in the game. The Cardinals (26-13-1 overall, 13-7 MIAC) outhit the Tommies 13-4.
“We really struggled at the plate. We didn’t really make adjustments … didn’t really have approaches on the pitcher,” Olean said. “That really needs to improve.”
The Tommies hope to snap their five game losing streak in Friday’s matchup against Hamline at 3 p.m. at the Cold Spring Baseball Park.
Smith is optimistic about Friday’s game and hopes the team can perform with a different mindset.
“Something we have been struggling with over the last couple of weeks is putting the wrong type of pressure on ourselves, and I am excited for the character we have the opportunity to show tomorrow,” Smith said. “I think we are going to be successful.”
Carolyn Meyer can be reached at cameyer@stthomas.edu.