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Ole Baseball on top of MIAC standings

Lars Finanger
April 19, 2002

On Wednesday, the St. Olaf Baseball team swept the visiting St. Thomas Tommies in a conference doubleheader, winning 2-1 and 5-1.

Joe Pavelko's (So, Richfield, MN) solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Oles over the Tommies 2-1. Pavelko connected on the first pitch of the inning off left-hander Brian Whinnery, giving the Oles the win.

The Tommies took a 1-0 lead in the second when Eric Johnson stroked a double, advanced on a catcher misfire, and scored on a Brett Olson single. That was the lone run starter Charlie Ruud (So, Cannon Falls, MN) would relinquish though. Ruud cruised after the second, scattering four hits and striking out four.

The Oles knotted the score one apiece in the fourth when third baseman Brad Baglien (So, Arden Hills, MN) stroked a one out double and scored on first baseman Mike Ludwig's (Jr, Blaine, MN) RBI single to right.

Brian Whinnery took the loss for the Tommies after allowing only five hits in the contest. The loss put the Tommies at 16-5 overall and 6-1 in conference.

Pavelko led the Oles on offense with his game-winning shot. Catcher Dan LaManna (Sr, South St. Paul), Baglien, and designated hitter Kevin Quame (Sr, Benson, MN) all stroked out doubles.

With the win the Oles improved to 7-1 in conference play and 15-8 overall.

The Oles completed the sweep with a 5-1 victory in the second game of the twinbill. Erik Goodmanson (Sr, Albert Lea, MN) held the Tommie sticks to one run and four hits while striking out five and going the distance on the hill.

The Oles picked up right where they left off, jumping ahead off Tommie starter Chris Cushmore to a 1-0 lead in the opening stanza. With two outs, Baglien drew a walk and scored when Ludwig's single was misplayed by the center fielder.

In the second inning, the Oles tacked on two more runs, increasing their lead to 3-0. Center fielder Steve Ryan (Sr, South St. Paul, MN) was issued a walk to lead off the inning, and later scored after a batters interference call against Quame, and a fly out by Joe Hammond (Sr, Nellsville, WI), when Matt Dean (Fy, Apple Valley, MN) doubled past the third baseman down the left field line.

The Tommies briefly threatened in the fifth when Johnson hit Goodmanson's first pitch over the fence, making the score 3-1.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Baglien knocked a triple into the right-center gap and scored when Ludwig's grounder was bobbled by the Tommie first baseman. After Pavelko drew a walk and Ryan singled, Quame knocked in Ludwig on a fielder's choice grounder, giving the Oles a 5-1 lead.

The win moved the Oles into sole possession of first place in the MIAC conference and upped their overall record to 16-8. The loss bumped the 6-2 Tommies into second place.

The Oles match up against the St. Mary's Cardinals on Saturday in their final home game of the season. The Cardinals are 5-3 in conference and 7-10 overall. The doubleheader will begin at 1:00.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3315 or finger@stolaf.edu.