The St. Thomas softball team took the field twice Thursday against Gustavus Adolphus, winning both games of a doubleheader matchup.
The Tommies (17-5, 7-1 MIAC) won the first game 9-1 in six innings and the second 12-6 in seven. Pitcher Hayley Dunning started both games for the Tommies on the mound and was credited with two wins, improving her record to 12-2 on the season.
Dunning credits her success on the mound to the Tommies behind her.
“I wouldn’t be nearly the pitcher I am without (my teammates),” she said. “I’m so confident that I’ll throw the pitch and they’ll get the ground ball and make the play every time.”
The Tommies had a noticeable advantage over the Gusties (4-14, 0-4 MIAC) in the error department. Gustavus had six errors in the second game of the doubleheader; the Tommies had one.
St. Thomas jumped out to a quick lead in its second game of the afternoon. Outfielder Dana Connelly ripped a two-run double over the head of the Gustie center fielder in the second inning to give the Tommies a 4-1 lead. Connelly went 3 for 3 with 2 RBI.
“I just focused on relaxing and really putting a good swing on the ball,” Connelly said. “Even though my swing hasn’t been feeling great, if I get the good part of the bat on the ball I’ll usually do pretty well.”
Infielder Emily Webb gave a spark to the Gustavus offense with a two-run home run to right-center field. The Gusties drove in one more run in the inning to cut the Tommies’ lead to 7-4.
St. Thomas fired back in the bottom the fifth, tallying three runs of its own. Infielder Sammy Hogan lined a two-RBI single into center field, sending home both runners in scoring position.
St. Thomas tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the sixth inning to secure the win.
“We started out the game swinging at some bad pitches,” coach John Tschida said, “and then they started getting a little more patient, so it was good to see them make that adjustment.”
St. Thomas is scheduled to travel to Augsburg April 14 as long as weather permits.
Kyle Manderfeld can be reached at mand4052@stthomas.edu.