Box Score

Grand Chute, Wis. - St. Thomas University (Minn.) continued its barrage on opposing pitching on Saturday (May 23) with a convincing 16-5 win over Shenandoah University (Va.) in round two of the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship at Fox Cities Stadium.

With the victory, the Tommies (38-12) remain as one of two unbeaten teams left in the double-elimination tournament, along with the The College of Wooster (Ohio) (41-9), which St. Thomas faces at 7 p.m. on Sunday (May 24).

Although they boast the nation's top fielding percentage, the Tommies' bats have been relentless through the team's first two games of the finals, including a 9-1 win over Chapman University (Calif.) in the opening round.

"We had two great wins in a row," St. Thomas head coach Dennis Denning said. "I think the highlight was our defense, and on offense everybody contributed. Just about everybody scored a run, or got an RBI or got a couple of hits -- both nights. The offense carried us."

Shenandoah (38-9) head coach Kevin Anderson was forced to go to his bullpen in the top of the third inning to replace starting pitcher Josh Simons. Simons allowed three earned runs, five hits and four walks in two complete innings of work, but not before the Tommies were able to secure an early 6-0 lead.

Tommies’ shortstop Roy Larson blasted a three-run homer with two outs in the sixth inning to highlight a six-run frame that extended the St. Thomas lead to 16-2. Larson finished with four hits at the plate, as did teammate Matt McQuillan. Additionally, Matt Olson and Louie Salmen combined for five runs and six RBI.

The Hornets made a modest comeback attempt with three runs in the sixth inning, but the damage had already been done. Shenandoah's Jason Eberz drew a bases-loaded walk in the frame, and a two-out single single by Jon Holcomb plated two more.

Kevin Brashears and Scott Van Dusseldorp collected two hits apiece with a pair of runs scored to lead the Hornets' offensive efforts.

Starting pitcher Bryce Gapinski earned the win for the Tommies, while Simons was credited with his first loss of the season to drop to 5-1 on the mound.

Shenandoah, which won convincingly over Farmingdale State College (N.Y.) by a final of 12-2 in the opening round, dropped into the loser's bracket with Saturday's setback and will now face Carthage College (Wis.) (37-8) in an elimination game set for 3:30 p.m. on Sunday (May 24).

"All our kids all play with a lot of heart and they enjoy themselves," Denning added. "Everything is rolling right for us, and hopefully we don't hit that wall where we stop and second-guess ourselves."

By: Luke LeNoble (Assistant Sports Information Director, Marquette University)