Saturday’s postponed doubleheader against St. Olaf didn’t faze pitcher Brianna Bannon and the No. 20-ranked St. Thomas softball team as it came time to play Sunday. The Tommies’ sweep proved that premise.

Bannon played well in the first three innings. She retired the first six Ole (5-11, 0-4 MIAC) batters and recorded two strikeouts.

Bannon said she felt confident before the game and credited some of her pitching to her team’s defense.

“I felt pretty good at the beginning of the game with warming up,” Bannon said. “My defense played really well behind me, and that’s all I can ask for.”

In the bottom of the second, shortstop McKenzie Wergin reached first base with a hit up the middle. She then stole second, tried for third and the Oles misplayed the ball, allowing Wergin to slide home safely for the score.

In the third inning, the Tommies (19-5, 6-0 MIAC) added two runs. The first two batters, outfielder Laura Pawlik and shortstop Jenna Hoffman, both reached base. Catcher Emily Gregory ripped a double down the left field line to score both Hoffman and Pawlik.

Bannon added strikeouts in both the fourth and fifth innings. It wasn’t until the sixth that St. Olaf would start to threaten St. Thomas’ lead. Infielder Beca Walz singled up the middle and an Ole batter would reach first off a second baseman Kimmy Hassel error.

At this point, coach John Tschida pulled Bannon out of the game, but he said her performance was great.

“She did a nice job keeping the ball down, very good job of hitting spots and throwing it toward their weakness,” Tschida said.

Pitcher Morgan Murphy relieved Bannon, not allowing any runners to score. The Tommies added an insurance run in the sixth after center fielder Alyssa Dunrud stole third and made it home on a passed ball. The Tommies topped the Oles 4-0 in the first game.

Bannon said the Tommies’ hitting has been great this whole season and it helped her out Sunday tremendously.

“Our lineup has been producing hits really well since coming back from Florida,” Bannon said. “It’s getting clutch hits at good times, which is really good for them.”

Hoffman’s homer lifts Tommies in extra innings

The Oles’ first batter reached second on a passed ball, but the Tommies’ defense didn’t seem to take a break as Hassel made a diving catch for an out and threw to second base to double up the Ole runner.

Pitcher Katie Jo Delisle threw just as well as Bannon. Delisle recorded a strikeout in the second inning. Wergin gave her team the early lead with a home run over left field fence, putting St. Thomas up 1-0.

Delisle built off this play by striking out back-to-back batters in the third. In the fourth, the first Ole batter landed on base, but Delisle struck out the second batter. With a runner on first, Hoffman snagged a ground ball and threw it Hassel, who connected with first baseman Erin Mussett for a double play.

Delisle said a change in her pitching stance and her team’s defense helped her play.

“I changed my motion and that helped a lot. I feel strong about my defense, which has helped a lot,” Delisle said. “Being able to throw a strike and have them hit it and have good ‘D’ behind me.”

Tschida said Delisle has been working a lot and that earned her the start in the second game.

“She was down the line in terms of pitchers and she kept plugging away and got better everyday,” Tschida said.

St. Thomas led 1-0 until in the top of the sixth when St. Olaf started showing some momentum.

Infielder Mackenzie Wolter stepped into the batters’ box with an Ole runner on second, when she took control of a pitch by Delisle and laced it right into center field. Wolter scored, notching the score at one. This marked the only run St. Thomas gave up Sunday.

After the the top of the sixth inning, Tschida went to his bullpen, bringing in pitcher Kendra Bowe. She denied any hope for St. Olaf, putting down the three batters she faced in the seventh. St. Thomas could not get the bats going in its half of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

After Bowe controlled the top of the eighth inning, Hoffman batted second in St. Thomas’ half of the extra frame. She unloaded on an Ole pitch, and it landed on the other side of the fence, giving St. Thomas the 2-1 extra inning victory.

Hoffman said she wasn’t expecting the home run, but she wasn’t surprised either.

“I wasn’t having a very good day hitting, but just ‘see the ball, hit the ball’ and it just happened,” Hoffman said.

Tschida said he had faith in Hoffman, and the pitchers have to be cautious when pitching to the Tommies’ shortstop.

“I told her if you don’t hit one out, you’re cut,” Tschida said. “She’s dangerous no matter where you pitch her, what you throw at her.”

St. Thomas travels Monday to Winona, Minn., to battle St. Mary’s in a doubleheader.

Jesse Krull can be reached at krul7386@stthomas.edu.