UW-La Crosse pitcher Caleb Boushley set the UWL career win record at 20 in a non-conference doubleheader split against the University of St. Thomas Thursday night at Copeland Ballpark.
Boushley gave up four hits during eight innings and allowed one run in the opener while striking out nine players and retiring 13 straight as the Falcons defeated the Tommies 5-2.
Rightfielder Sam Cobbs said Boushley was the highest caliber pitcher the team has faced this season.
“He was really good. He was throwing really hard and could throw all three pitches for strikes wherever he wanted to put them,” Cobbs said. “It took us too long to make an adjustment.”
St. Thomas pitcher Ryan Zimmerman took the loss.
Olean said Zimmermann pitched really and kept the team in the game, but the Tommies missed some crucial plays that cost them the game.
The Tommies redeemed themselves in the second game winning 9-4 behind eight solid innings from Henry DeCaster. He struck out seven batters and remains undefeated on the season.
In the nightcap, the Falcons took an early lead in bottom of the first scoring three run on two hits, a walk and an error by St. Thomas second baseman Chad Clute.
St. Thomas cut the lead to 3-2 in the third inning with back-to-back homeruns from outfielder Jake Smith and Cobbs. This was Cobbs’s second home run on the night.
Cobbs said he timed a fastball and put it in the air for his first home run claiming the wind was in his favor. After, the La Crosse pitching staff only threw him curveballs, so he took what he was dealt and sent another over the fence.
“It was nice seeing two leave (the ballpark) in one day,” Cobbs said.
Then in the fourth St. Thomas claimed its first lead of the night tacking on two more runs.
First Baseman Charlie Callahan hit a solo shot in the eighth inning to secure a 9-4 lead.
Olean said he was encouraged by the offense in the second game.
“Offensively we are starting to come around, but we just got to have a little more competitive at-bats,” Olean said.
St. Thomas is on the road Saturday April 22 at Carleton.
Carolyn Meyer can be reached at cameyer@stthomas.edu.