The University Red Devils will face off against the Saint Mary's Panthers at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. University is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10 runs per game this season.
University was handed a heart-breaking two-run loss in their last contest, but they sure didn't let that happen against St. Vincent de Paul on Tuesday. University put the hurt on St. Vincent de Paul with a sharp 19-1 win. The Red Devils have beaten the Mustangs the last five times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Mustangs has come to flipping the script.
Sabin Verplaetse
| 03/18/25 @ St. Vincent de Paul | 9 |
| 04/13/24 vs Washington | 8 |
| 02/26/25 @ Harker | 6 |
| 03/05/24 vs St. Vincent de Paul | 5 |
| 03/06/25 vs Skyline | 4 |
Sabin Verplaetse tossed a big game, keeping things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out nine over five innings pitched. Those nine strikeouts gave him a new career-high.
At the plate, University let Alexander Coleman and Jett Messenger run wild. Coleman went 4-for-5 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI, while Messenger went 3-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. Coleman also put up two doubles, which were his first of the season. Another player making a difference was Owen Chee, who scored two runs while going 2-for-4.
University hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now struck out at most five strikeouts every time they've taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, Saint Mary's was not able to break out of their rough patch on March 3rd as the team picked up their fourth straight defeat dating back to last season. They were two runs away from ending the streak, but they lost a 2-0 heartbreaker at the hands of St. Joseph Notre Dame. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Panthers have suffered against the Pilots since May 17, 2016.
Saint Mary's also got a good showing from Cody Wegner, who struck out six batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits.
On the hitting side, Saint Mary's saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Jayson Webb, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one stolen base.
University's victory bumped their record up to 6-1. As for Saint Mary's, their defeat dropped their record down to 0-3.
Saint Mary's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: University hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .441. It's a different story for Saint Mary's, though, as they've only averaged .205. Will they be able to contain University's hitters? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
