Sophomore Hunter Hart drove in six runs and scored five times in his first MIAC starts of the seasons and No. 15-ranked St. Thomas Baseball closed out an important 9-0, 11-9 road sweep of Hamline Wednesday in a battle of conference co-leaders.
The Tommies (25-9 overall, 14-4 MIAC) locked up a playoff berth and top-two seed, making it 17-for-17 in playoff appearances since the event debuted in 2000. St. Thomas can secure at least a share of the MIAC championship with one win in Saturday's home twinbill against Gustavus, and take the solo title with a sweep.
UST saw a 9-2 lead vanish in game two but scratched out the go-ahead and insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning with the help of a throwing error and a balk.
Eric Veglahn pitched six shutout innings in the opener and allowed three hits and two walks with six strikeouts. He improved to 6-1 on the season and 24-2 on his career.
Hart homered and doubled in game one to drive in four runs. He scored three runs in game two. Hart missed the last 20 games last season with an injury. Wednesday was his first start among 18 MIAC games as he was inserted as designated hitter. He started the day with five hits in 13 games and a .238 batting average.
In game two, Hamline scored four runs in the eighth inning to tie the score 9-9. In UST's ninth inning, Brady Johnson was hit by a pitch and scored the go-ahead on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt. A balk moments later let the Toms take an 11-9 lead.
The Pipers used a hit batter and a single to put the tying runs aboard in the last of the ninth but sohomore Alex Ogren got a fly out to strand the two runners and end the game. Ogren won his first game as a collegian despite giving up a tyng home run in the eighth innings. After that, Ogren set down six of the last eight batters.
St. Thomas had 24 hits on the day. Jake Smith went 4-for-7 with three walks, and Chad Clute went 4-for-7 with a sac fly among his four RBI. Cory Quinlan scored four runs.
The MIAC title race will be decided Saturday. St. John's, now one game back at 13-5, plays Concordia in a home twinbill. Hamline (22-14, 12-6) plays two against Carleton. St. Mary's has locked up the other playoff spot.