Junior Dylan Thomas had a pair of two-out RBI doubles and contributed a three-out save on the mound to lead No. 2-ranked St. Thomas (26-4 overall, 14-0 MIAC) to an 8-7 comeback win over Carleton (12-19, 4-10) in game one of a Tuesday conference doubleheader at UST's Koch Diamond in St. Paul.
In the nightcap, senior lefty Bryce Gapinski (5-0) threw a four-hit shutout with no walks and six strikeouts to post his 24th career victory.
Thomas and Ben Podobinski each went 5-for-7 on the day to lead UST, which clinched a conference playoff berth with six games let in the MIAC season. The Toms kept their four-game lead on St. John's, which swept St. Olaf on Tuesday.
In game one, the Toms had five two-out RBI hits and rallied from a 5-2 deficit. Mark Ulrich, UST's third pitcher, worked 1 1-3 innings and earned the victory.
St. Thomas ran its season win streak to 17, one off the school record set in 1997. UST also extended its home-field win streak to 24. The Toms have swept 13 consecutive conference doubleheaders since April 2011.
Carleton rallied from a 7-5 deficit with two runs to tie in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Erik Fabry and an RBI triple by Jeff Dsida. But Podobinski's one-out double and Thomas' two-out double in the sixth inning broke a 7-7 tie. Thomas relieved to start the seventh inning and retired all three batters to close out the victory.
In game two, Sam Miller's two-run homer capped a seven-run fifth inning for UST.
St. Thomas is home Saturday for Senior Day against Bethel and two seven-inning game starting at 1 p.m.