Outfielder Jake Smith went 5-7 at the plate with two RBIs as the St. Thomas baseball team swept the St. Mary’s Cardinals 5-3, 8-1 in Thursday’s doubleheader at Koch Diamond.

Smith said the second game specifically was a product of what the team can accomplish.

“Probably six of the eight innings we played to our full potential. We kind of had a little lull in the middle, but we did a good job of sticking with a good approach and getting on their pitcher early,” Smith said. “Another stellar performance by our staff.”

Smith said forcing the Cardinals to use their bullpen was key.

“Once we got to their bullpen we were able to hit basically anything that we wanted,” Smith said.

In the opener, Ryan Zimmerman took the mound for the Tommies (14-9 overall, 7-1 MIAC) and pitched a complete-game victory improving his conference record to 3-0.

Coach Chris Olean said the first game was close, but (Zimmerman) kept the Tommies in the game.

“Zimmy threw a really nice game for us and battled through,” said Olean.

Henry DeCaster lasted seven innings in game two before Caleb Fernholz pitched two solid innings of relief. DeCaster recorded his fifth victory of the season and remains undefeated with a 5-0 record.

“He made some good pitches and to go seven innings with one run is pretty good and the one run was just a mistake on a fastball count,” Olean said. “He’s been really good.”

The St. Thomas pitching staff combined for 19 strikeouts and allowed four Cardinal (11-14 overall, 1-5 MIAC) runs.

St. Thomas did not trail in either game, but the Cardinals tied the first in the fifth inning with back-to-back singles by Kinne and Slowiak. First baseman Jake Barry homered in the fifth inning scoring the Cardinal’s only run of the second game.

Coach Olean said his team is happy with the win, but defensively in the first game the team gave up some runs and forced themselves into a closer game than they had hoped.

“We had a lead off walk, we had some hit guys, we had a misplay in right field, and they really didn’t do much with the bat against us,” Olean. “We kept them in the game on our own.”

The Tommie bats came alive against St. Mary’s. Josh Thorp homered in both games finishing with three RBIs on three hits. Sam Cobbs and led the team with four RBIs, while Sam Schneider and Smith contributed two apiece and Hunter Hart and Rock Cates each tallied one.

Smith said the team “had some big players make some big-time plays and big-time moments.”

St. Thomas entered break atop the MIAC standing one game ahead of Bethel and St. John’s. The Tommies are on the road Saturday, April 15 against Macalester.

Carolyn Meyer can be reached at cameyer@stthomas.edu.