Pitcher Sammy Hogan drove in the game-winning run as top-seed St. Thomas defeated fourth-seed St. Benedict 3-2 in the first round of the MIAC softball tournament Friday afternoon at South Field.
The Tommies loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning before Hogan hit in the walk-off infield single toward the diving Blazers second baseman Claire Boatman. Center fielder Megan Bush crossed the plate, sealing the win for St. Thomas.
Hogan said she didn’t care if she was safe or out. Her main goal was to advance the runners.
“I was just thinking, take it to right. We always talk about ‘team offense, team offense hit it to the right ride.’ Just to get that runner to score that’s all I really cared about,” Hogan said.
The team found itself in a two-run deficit early in the game. Blazer pitcher Kiela DeVlaeminck retired the first 10 Tommie batters.
Head coach John Tschida said the game came down to timely hitting.
“We patched up and started putting some hits together. Really timely because they were out-hitting us at one point,” Tschida said.
Hogan said the comeback speaks to the team’s mentality and resilience.
“We can be down 8-0, and we will still come back no matter what. That’s what I love about this program. We are always grinders,” Hogan said.
St. Benedict left fielder Emilie Antony hit an RBI single to center field, scoring on center fielder Kate Deming for the first run of the ball game. The team struck again in the third inning. Shortstop Sara Wennerstrand grounded into an RBI double play, extending St. Benedict’s lead to two.
Tschida said his team made a couple of mental errors that allowed the Blazers to take the lead.
“(St. Benedict) had bases loaded, ground ball to second … a pretty hard ball that I thought we should get the runner at home instead of going for a double play,” Tschida said.
But the Tommies fought back in the fourth inning. Both first baseman Chase Shortly and Bush laced RBI singles into center field to put St. Thomas on the board.
In the circle, Hogan pitched a complete game and retired 14 of the last 16 Blazer batters.
The Tommies play St. Kate’s at 11 a.m. Saturday at South Field in game three of the MIAC Tournament.
Carolyn Meyer can be reached at cameyer@stthomas.edu.