Catcher Emily Gregory’s five RBIs led the St. Thomas softball team to a 5-0 win against Washington University-St. Louis in the second round of the NCAA Division III regional softball championships Friday in Pella, Iowa.

Coming off a 9-1 first-round win against Bethany Lutheran (Minn.) Thursday, St. Thomas took control early against Washington-St. Louis. After back-to-back singles from shortstop Jenna Hoffman and second baseman Kimmy Hassel to begin the game, Gregory hit a three-run home run to deep left field, putting the Tommies up 3-0 in the top of the first inning.

“My mind was really clear today,” Gregory said of her performance at the plate. “I know yesterday I didn’t play very well. I had a lot of jitters. First game (of the NCAA playoffs), you get that sometimes, but today, everything was working for me.”

Coach John Tschida said his team’s preparation before the game was key to its fast start on offense.

“Today we were on in practice and (the team’s) energy was really good,” Tschida said. “I kind of expected us to come out that way based on our pregame (batting practice).”

Gregory followed up with more offense in the top of the second inning.

After Hoffman drew a walk and Hassel singled to right field, Gregory hit a scorching line drive into a right-field gap, scoring Hoffman and Hassel. Gregory’s second inning double put the Tommies up 5-0, giving the team a comfortable lead for the rest of the game.

The five-run deficit prompted the Bears to pull starting pitcher Annie Pitkin and replace her with reliever Brooke Hofer. Hofer would go on to pitch 5 ⅔ shutout innings for the rest of the contest.

“(Washington) did a nice job of mixing it up and moving the ball around,” Tschida said of the Bears’ pitching. “We got a little undisciplined and got ourselves out while they executed their pitches.”

However, the five runs were all St. Thomas needed to win.

Pitcher Kendra Bowe threw seven shutout innings and conceded only two hits. The win gave Bowe her 18th win of the season.

“Kendra has been (in the NCAA playoffs) before. She knows how to pitch,” Gregory said.

Bowe was in command of her pitches throughout the game, struck out five batters and walked one.

The Tommie defense allowed three batters to reach first base, and it didn’t allow any runners to reach second base.

“Tschida focuses a lot on the fundamentals. So every day in practice we’re doing the little things,” Hassel said. “We kind of think ‘one pitch, one warrior.’ Wherever the pitch is hit we try to get that jump to get that one extra step to make that play.”

With the win, St. Thomas plays at 2 p.m. Saturday in the regional semifinal against Central College (Iowa).

Tschida said his team is prepared to play either team and is excited to continue its early NCAA playoff success.

“Everybody is good at this stage,” Tschida said. “Whoever is going to be left today is going to be really good. It’s just a matter of playing good ball.”

Jacob Sevening can be reached at seve8586@stthomas.edu.