University of St. Thomas Athletics
25-6, 12-1
Bethel
16-15, 8-5
Softball sweeps Royals, Wright gets MIAC record
4/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
St. Thomas senior Alison Wright broke the MIAC softball career hits record with a 5-for-8 day at the plate to lead the 21st-ranked Tommies' 8-0, 8-1 sweep of host Bethel in Tuesday's conference twinbill in Arden Hills.
Wright started the day with 239 hits, tied with ex-St. Thomas player Michelle Wong (2002-05), and now has 244 hits in 170 career games. Wright, who has hit safely in 25 of her last 26 games, now has 80 multi-hit games on her career.
Her 244 total also is the most in MIAC history in baseball or softball -- ex-Tommie Jake Mauer holds the conference baseball career record with 243 hits. Wright's fifth-inning double in game one broke the record.
The Toms (26-6 overall, 13-1 MIAC) have won 24 of their last 26 games. Their sweep and Gustavus' split at Augsburg put St. Thomas back alone in first place by one game in the MIAC with eight games left. The Gusties won 3-2 in nine innings but allowed two runs in the bottom of the seventh and lost game two to the Auggies 4-3.
Coach John Tschida now has 599 career wins in 10 seasons with the Tomas and six with St. Mary's. He's won 85% of his games (599-104) to rank first nationally among active or retired Division III softball coaches.
St. Thomas slapped 12 hits in the opener and 12 more in game two. Cassie Smith's three-run homer in the seventh inning helped the Toms blow open game one. Sydney Marquardt hit a solo home run in the fifth inning of game two and has now hit safely in 24 of her last 25 games.
Marta Radcliffe worked six innings of game one and five of game two and allowed just one run, seven hits and one walk with 14 strikeouts. She climbed to 16-6 on the season and is now 36-2 on her career in MIAC games. Radcliffe allowed three hits, no walks and no runs over six innings and has won 15 of her last 16 decisions.
The Toms host St. Olaf Thursday in a 4 p.m. twinbill, then play a Saturday doubleheader at Gustavus.
Click here for game one box score:
http://www.tommiesports.com/sftbl/stats/4-20-sb1.htm
Click here for game two box score:
http://www.tommiesports.com/sftbl/stats/4-20-sb2.htm
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MIAC Softball Career Hits Leaders
*244, Alison Wright, St. Thomas, 2007-present (170 games)
239, Michelle Wong, St. Thomas, 2002-05 (181 games)
230, Nikki Conway, St. Thomas, 2003-06 (189 games)
218, Carrie Embree, St. Thomas, 2004-07 (172 games)
216, Amanda Gage, Hamline, 2002-05, (155 games)
214, Jenny Garin, St. Mary's, 1996-96 (168 games)
214, Julie Mahre, Gustavus, 2005-08 (155 games)
210, Rachael Click, Gustavus, 2006-09 (169 games)
209, Jenni Gutterman, St. Mary's, 2003-06 (162 games)
209, Audrey Lenoch, Gustavus, 2003-06 (159 games)
208, Jennifer Meyer, St. Mary's, 1998-01, (179 games)
206, Jill Hocking, St. Mary's, 1998-01, (178 games)
205, Emily Deuth, Hamline, 2000-03, (139 games)
Others
199, Shannon Moore, St. Thomas, 2000-03, (172 games)
192, Maria Bye, St. Thomas, 2005-08, (173 games)
Click here to view more Greg Smith action photos:
Alyssa Dunrud steals third. (Greg Smith photo)
Chandran Duffy (20) tahs runner caught stealing. (Greg Smith photo)
Alison Wright doubles in game one for hit No. 240. (Grefg Smith photo)
Above, Marta Radcliffe out at third base; below Cassie Smith hits three-run homer. (Greg Smith photos)
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Radcliffe (15-3)
L: C. Rowden (5-5)
Batting:
2B: Wilson 1 ; Wright 2
HR: Smith 1
RBI: Tondryk 2 ; Smith 3 ; Feisal 1 ; Boward 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marquardt 2 ; Wright 1 ; Dunrud 1 ; Tondryk 2 ; Radcliffe 1 ; Smith 1
SB: Wilson 2 ; Marquardt 1 ; Dunrud 1 ; Boward 1
CS: Tondryk 1 ; Radcliffe 1
Base Running:
CS: M. Matson 1
