Thur. NCAA Softball: Tommies lose 3-1

L, 1-3
Webster (Mo.) (W), May 07, 2009

Top-seed St. Thomas left nine runners on base and lost 3-1 to eighth-seed Webster (Mo.) 3-1 in today's seven-inning NCAA regional softball game in Indianola, Iowa. 

St. Thomas (39-5) will play a Friday noon elimination game against UW-LaCrosse, which led 4-0 but lost 5-4 to Wartburg (Iowa). That winner plays a 6 p.m. elimination game.

St. Thomas scored its only run in the bottom of the fourth inning but left the bases loaded. Colleen Owen singled, was bunted to second, took third on Becky Eischen's single and scored on Kallie Samuelson's sacrifice fly.

Owen and Eischens each had two hits to lead St. Thomas.

Webster (24-16) scored three unearned runs. Junior Megan Sperry came in to pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning, and Webster leadiong 2-1, and retired 10 of the last 12 batters on the game.

A two-out triple and trowing error scored Webster's second run in the third inning. Webster scored its third run on a two-out hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, aided by a walk and an error. UST's Marta Radcliffe worked all seven innings and allowed no earned runs, five hits, six walks and a HBP.

It's the third consecutive NCAA playoff loss for the Tommies dating back to May 2008. St. Thomas, making its 12th NCAA regional trip in 13 seasons, had won six consecutive NCAA regional opening games since 2002. The Toms now have to win five or six games in the next three days to win the regional.

Thursday's first-round games

Webster (Mo.) 3, St. Thomas 1

Wartburg 5, UW-LaCrosse 4

Washington (Mo.) vs. Luther (Iowa)

Gustavus vs. Central (Iowa)

Click here for box score:

http://www.simpson.edu/storm/2009softball/trny01.htm

Click here for tourney bracket:

http://www.central.edu/athletics/softball/supportdocs/09NCAA1stRoundBracket.pdf