University of St. Thomas Athletics
Hamline
Softball sweeps Pipers, now 19-3
4/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
No. 5-ranked St. Thomas outhit Hamline 21-2 on the day and completed a 9-0, 4-0 MIAC softball sweep Saturday on UST's South Field.
St. Thomas (19-3 overall, 4-0 MIAC) has won 27 consecutive home games and 36 games in row vs. MIAC opponents. Senior RHP Maria Bye combined on a five-inning no-hitter in game one and is now 72-8 on her pitching career (34-1 in MIAC decisions). In game two, sophomore Marta Radcliffe struck out seven and threw a two-hit shutout.
UST's John Tschida coached his 600th career game and is now 510-90 in 14 seasons at St. Mary's and St. Thomas.
Bye (3 IP) and Cassie Smith (2 IP) combined on five-inning no-hitter with two walks and eight strikeouts. UST led off the first inning with back-to-back HRs by Kaitlyn Wightman and Alison Wright, and scored eight runs in the inning on seven hits. Steph Moores added a solo home run in the second inning, and the Tommies now have 29 home runs in 22 games.
Jessalyn Weaver pitched all four innings of game one for Hamline (4-8, 0-2). Weaver retired nine of the last 11 batters she faced after falling down 9-0 in the second inning.
In game two, Morgan Betker, Colleen Owen, Moores and Wright each had RBI hits to lead an 11-hit Tommie offense. Moores went 2-for-2 and Missy Bruggeman went 2-for-3.
Leading 3-0, Radcliffe pitched out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, and retired the last 10 batters of the game. HU's Sara Mickelson reached with a two-out walk in the fourth inning, took second on Brenna Healy's infield single, and took third on Ashley Anderberg's solid single to left. But an inning-ending pop out to first killed the threat.
The Tommies are scheduled to play three more MIAC doubleheaders this week -- at home Sunday vs. St. Olaf (1 p.m.); at home Tuesday vs. Gustavus (4 p.m.); and Wednesday at St. Benedict (4 p.m.).
Game 1
Hamline 000 00 -- 0 0 2
St. Thomas 810 0x-- 9 10 0
Weaver and Anderberg; Bye, Smith (4) and Moores, Schiefert (5). WP-Bye (9-0). LP-Weaver (2-5). HRs: UST, Wightman, Wright, Moores. Highlights: Maria Bye 3 IP, O H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 72-8 Career W-L (34-1 MIAC)... Kaitlyn Wightman, Alison Wright back-to-back HRs to start first inning.
Game 2
Hamline 000 000 0 -- 0 2 0
St. Thomas 003 100 x -- 4 11 1
Weaver, Tacheny (5) and Anderberg; Radcliffe and Moores. WP-Radcliffe (9-3). LP-Weaver (2-6). Highlights: UST's Marta Radcliffe 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 7 Ks... Steph Moores 2-for-2, RBI, BB.
Maria Bye (13) contributed at the plate and on the mound. (Mike Ekern photo)
Colleen Owen looks to bunt in Saturday's action. (Mike Ekern photo)
UST freshman Cassie Smith retired all six batters she faced in game one. (Mike Ekern photo)
