Chase Stanke homered twice, and the Gophers baseball team collected 12 hits in a 12-0 victory over St. Thomas on Tuesday night at U.S. Bank Stadium in the teams’ first meeting as Division I programs.
Stanke, a senior catcher from Sugar Grove, Ill., got Minnesota (3-6) started in its home opener with a three-run homer in the team’s six-run second inning. He finished with five runs batted in.
Easton Bertrand finished 3-for-4 for the Gophers, and Brett Bateman and Ronald Sweeny added two hits apiece.
Jack Liffrig picked up the pitching victory, allowing three hits over 7 2/3 innings.
Charlie Bartholomew was 2-for-3 for the Tommies (2-6), who finished with four hits. Brigs Richartz and Avery Lehman had the other two hits for St. Thomas, which was a Division III national power for decades before moving up to Division I competition this season.
College baseball: Gophers get second win of season, Tommies get first Division I win ever
Local colleges: Gophers win, Tommies lose baseball season openers
