University of St. Thomas Athletics
Concordia (Wis.)
Thurs. NCAA softball: UST wins 15-2
5/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
see Des Moines Register story here
Top-seed St. Thomas tied an NCAA all-division playoff record with five home runs en route to a 15-2 win over eighth-seed Concordia (Wis.) in Thursday's first-round NCAA regional softball playoff game in Indianola Iowa.
The game was halted after five innings due to the eight-run rule.
Louisiana State, St. Mary's (Tex.), and the College of New Jersey prevuously had five homers in an NCAA playoff game.
The Tommies (42-2) now have a Division III-record 64 home runs in 44 games, including 21 in the last eight games, all since April 30.
The Tommies extended their three-year postseason win streak to 24 games, including a 15-0 record in NCAA playoff games. They advance to a 5 p.m. winner's bracket game Friday vs. St. Scholastica, a 2-0 winner over Washington (Mo.).
UST's 35 total bases and 18 hits were one off the Division III playoff single-game records.
Carrie Embree, Nikki Conway, Fiona Lodge and Ashley Carlblom all homered and went 3-for-3. Janet Nagle went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Embree, who homered twice and ran her hitting streak to 15 games, broke a conference record for hits in a season. She now has 73 in 44 games.
Conway hit a three-run homer -- the 45th of her career, which moved her into third in Division III history. She's also second in Division III career runs with 217.
The first 12 Concordia batters were retired in order. The Falcons (21-22) broke up the perfect game with a solo homer in the top of the fifth, and added two more hits and a run.
UST sophomore starter Maria Bye retired all nine batters she faced, eight by strikeout, and improved to 21-1 on the season with her 18th consecutive win. Freshman Kallie Samuelson retired the first three she faced in the fourth but allowed three hits and two runs in the fifth inning.
Embree led off the first inning with a solo HR for a quick 1-0 lead, and the Toms scored six runs in the second and six more in the third.
NCAA Division III Softball Regional
Indianola, Iowa Thursday's First Round--St. Thomas 15, Concordia (Wis.) 2 (5 inn.)
--St. Scholastica 2, Washington (Mo.) 0--Louisiana College 7, vs. Fontbonne (Mo.) 4
--Wartburg (Iowa) vs. Simpson (Iowa) Concordia (Wis.)----000 02 -- 2 3 5St. Thomas----------166 2x -- 15 18 0
Rennicke, Hilgendorf (4) and Gudgeon; Bye, Samuelson (4) and Conway, Moores (4). W-Bye (21-1). LP-Rennicke (13-12). HR: UST, Embree 2 (6), Conway (14), Lodge (5), Carlblom (8); Conc, Rennicke (5). Highlights: Toms tie NCAA playoff record with five HR; Carrie Embree 3-for-3, 4 RBI, 2 HR; Nikki Conway 3-for-3, 45th career HR, 3 RBI; Ashley Carlblom 3-for-3, HR; Fiona Lodge 3-for-3, HR; Maria Bye 3IP, retired all nine she faced, 8K, won 18th decision in row.
UST 42-2, Conc. 21-22.
