14-inning games ends as tie for Tommies

More news about: St. Thomas-Minn

Tommie baseball used a late rally to stay alive but eventually had its non-conference game at UW-Superior called by darkness after 14 innings, tied 4-4. The game will not be resumed and will go into the books as a tie.

St. Thomas left 17 runners on base, nine in scoring position, in a game that lasted 4:08 on the clock.

The Tommies rode strong relief pitching by senior Greg Clute (five shutout innings) and sophomore Bill Ferderer (four batters faced, three strikeouts, one walk). Likewise, two Superior pitchers walked 10, allowed 10 hits and hit one but gave up just four runs. Reliever Damian Wiblin fanned 10 in 5 2-3 innings.

It was the Toms' longest baseball game in innings since a 17-inning NCAA regional playoff victory at Stevens Point in 2009. That game was actually a hair shorter on the clock at 4:07.

UST (19-13-1) never led but used a three-run rally in the top of the ninth inning to erase a 4-1 deficit.

Keller Knoll's solo home run in the second inning was the only offense St. Thomas generated over the first eight innings.

UST was down to its last two outs of the game trailing 4-1 when Zach Gottfredsen singled, Jake Smith reached on an error, and A.J. Sayer walked to load the bases. Brady Johnson's RBI single made it 4-2, a walk to Drew Miller made it 4-3, and Ryan Gerber's sacrifice fly tied the game at 4-4.

The Toms' best scoring chance in extra innings was in the top of the 14th when freshman Logan Kohorst had a pinch-hit double -- his first collegiate hit -- to lead off the inning. A pinch runner came on but the Toms couldn't get the go-ahead run.

The Tommies play one nine-inning game Friday in Waterloo, Iowa, against No. 11-ranked Wartburg. They return home to play two games Sunday against Augsburg. The Auggies (6-10 MIAC), who recently swept St. Mary's and split with Concordia-Moorhead, lost two at home Thursday night to Macalester to fall out of MIAC playoff contention.