The St. Thomas softball team defeated Hamline in both games of a doubleheader Wednesday evening at South Field, holding the Pipers to a total of three runs through both games.
The Tommies (29-5 overall, 19-1 MIAC) took the first game by a score of 7-3 and shutout Hamline (13-15 overall, 6-8 MIAC) in the second game, winning 4-0.
In the first game, Tommie outfielder Dana Connelly started the scoring off in the bottom of the first with an RBI ground-rule double. St. Thomas would tack on two more runs in the inning. Connelly added another RBI double in the fifth inning and infielder Chase Shortly added an RBI triple for insurance.
Pitcher Hayley Dunning pitched a complete game, holding Hamline to three earned runs on five hits. The win gives Dunning her 18th on the season, which leads the MIAC..
“It was a great job by our pitchers today, they were missing their spots low which makes it a little more difficult to hit,” catcher Jenna Bromen said. “They stayed in the count which allowed them to throw some more pitches intentionally out of the zone, making the batters chase a little bit.”
Sammy Hogan continued the Tommies’ stellar pitching into the second game of the doubleheader, throwing 6 ⅓ shutout innings and recording her 10th win of the season.
Infielder Elise Barnes sparked the St. Thomas offense with a solo home run to right-center field in the bottom of the third inning. Barnes leads the Tommies with five deep balls on the season.
“I was just trying to focus on being patient and make sure that I found my pitch to hit and it happened to come at the right time in the count.” Barnes said.
Infielder Jenna Beeso added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single.
Hayley Dunning came in to close out the game in the seventh inning, completing the doubleheader sweep of Hamline and recording her first save of the season. Wednesday night’s victories extend the Tommies win streak to 18 games.
“We work hard day in and day out,” coach Tschida said. “A lot of teams show up for big games and not others, but our girls do a really good job showing up for all practices and games.”
The Tommies will head to St. Catherine for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader in hopes of stretching their win streak to 20 games.
Kyle Manderfeld can be reached at mand4052@stthoms.edu.