APPLETON, Wis.- Behind two five-run innings and pitcher Eric Veglahn’s complete game and two-hit shutout, the St. Thomas baseball team defeated Linfield College 10-0 Friday in the first round of the Division-III College World Series.

Veglahn struck out 12 and walked only one batter in his nine innings of work, effectively stymying the offense of the defending national champion Wildcats. Veglahn no-hit Linfield through seven innings, something he attributed to a superb command of his pitches all afternoon.

“I was able to put my fastball where I wanted to and threw it in some unexpected counts,” Veglahn said. “I think that kept their hitters off-balance.”

Coach Chris Olean said he was certainly impressed by Veglahn’s composure on the mound, but wasn’t surprised by it.

“He’s pitched a lot of big games in the past, and he’s just a calm and cool guy when he’s out there,” Olean said. “Over the last month or so, he’s been our best pitcher, and you know he’s not going to beat himself.”

The Tommies jumped out to an early lead and scored five runs in the first inning off Linfield starter Chris Haddeland, the two-time Division-III Pitcher of the Year. Center fielder Ben Podobinski and designated hitter Waylon Bemboom both started the inning with walks for St. Thomas before Linfield committed three errors in the first to allow three unearned runs.

The Tommies added two more earned runs in the first inning with four different players recording RBIs. Olean said the first inning was surprising, given Haddeland’s status as an elite pitcher.

“(Haddeland) was pretty wild at first, so we just had to wait him out and not chase pitches,” Olean said. “But once he settled down, he was tough.”

After the wild first inning, Haddeland shut down the St. Thomas offense until the Tommies scored five more runs in the sixth inning off Linfield relief pitcher Joseph Stevick. Olean said he was impressed with the way the team battled back from the lull in the middle of the game to “chase (Haddeland) from the game.”

The Tommies added five more runs in the sixth inning on an RBI single by shortstop Brady Johnson, a two-RBI single by catcher J.D. Dorgan, a bases-loaded walk by left fielder Tim Kuzniar and a run scored by right fielder Kelvin Stroik on a wild pitch.

Overall, five of the nine St. Thomas batters to lead off an inning reached base, an important factor that Olean said highlights one reason for his team’s success.

“If you start strong, you finish strong,” Olean said. “This is just one game of many for us hopefully, but we’re in good shape thanks to guys stepping up at key moments.”

Tom Pitzen can be reached at pitz2014@stthomas.edu.