University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, April 7
St. Paul, Minn.
12:00 p.m. Central
vs
Western Illinois
Photo by: Collin Boyles
Softball hosts Western Illinois for three game Summit League series
4/6/2023 12:28:00 PM | Softball
Last Weekend Recap
The Tommies dropped all three of their games against the defending Summit League Champion South Dakota State Jackrabbits in 2-0, 4-1, and 8-0 contests.
Game One
St. Thomas matched up with one-time Summit League Pitcher of the Year Tori Kniesche and the right-hander lived up to her reputation.
She went all seven innings and kept the Tommies out of the run column. She allowed just two hits (both off Avery Wukawitz's bat), walked six and struck out 10.
The Purple fielded a pitcher at the top of her game as well. Ella Cook went four innings without giving up a run. She allowed just four hits and three walks and sent down four Jackrabbits via the strikeout.
Game Two
Brooke Ellestad drove home Avery Wukawitz on an RBI bunt-single in the bottom of the first inning, but that run was the only offensive output St. Thomas would deploy in their game-two defeat.
Isabelle True held the impressive Jackrabbit offense to two runs through the opening five innings and kept her team in the game throughout. True went the distance and allowed four runs on three walks, nine hits, and three strikeouts.
Game Three
It was a new day but more of the same as the Tommies faced off against Tori Kniesche once again. The junior held the Toms to no runs on no hits and one walk with nine strikeouts through five nearly perfect innings.
The Jackrabbits went to the bullpen and Kaitlyn Raymond broke up the no-hit bid with one out in the bottom of the six.
Keira Murphy was nearly lights out to begin the game. Through three innings she did not allow a run and retired seven straight after a two-out walk in the first.
The Tommie defense committed five errors that played a part in seven of the Jackrabbit's eight runs.
Scouting Western Illinois
The Leathernecks (7-22 overall, 1-2 Summit) come into St. Paul after winning one of three games against North Dakota State in their Summit League opening series.
Their game-one win against the Bison snapped a 13-game losing streak that began on February 26th against the Lindenwood Lions.
Western Illinois is led by a couple of strong offensive players in the middle of their lineup. Bella Alvarez and Savannah Rodriguez each have OPS's over .900 (.992 and .926 respectively) and have combined for 48 hits, nine doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 25 RBI, 89 total bases and seven walks.
Their work in the circle has been balanced between two quality arms. Savannah Rodriguez has thrown 78.1 innings in 18 appearances for a 4.11 earned run average, 1.54 WHIP, and .285 BAA. She has tallied 77 strikeouts and 31 walks. Emily Price has tossed 78 innings in 16 appearances for a 3.23 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and .271 BAA with 70 strikeouts and 25 walks.
Series History
The Tommies and Leathernecks have matched up three times in their programs' histories. St. Thomas won two of the three meetings last season. The Purple outscored Western Illinois 26-15.
St. Thomas tallied 28 hits in the series and recorded ten strikeouts of Leatherneck hitters.
Brooke Ellestad got on base eight times, scored a run in each game, and brought home five RBI in the three game set.
That's a Fact
The Tommies dropped all three of their games against the defending Summit League Champion South Dakota State Jackrabbits in 2-0, 4-1, and 8-0 contests.
Game One
St. Thomas matched up with one-time Summit League Pitcher of the Year Tori Kniesche and the right-hander lived up to her reputation.
She went all seven innings and kept the Tommies out of the run column. She allowed just two hits (both off Avery Wukawitz's bat), walked six and struck out 10.
The Purple fielded a pitcher at the top of her game as well. Ella Cook went four innings without giving up a run. She allowed just four hits and three walks and sent down four Jackrabbits via the strikeout.
Game Two
Brooke Ellestad drove home Avery Wukawitz on an RBI bunt-single in the bottom of the first inning, but that run was the only offensive output St. Thomas would deploy in their game-two defeat.
Isabelle True held the impressive Jackrabbit offense to two runs through the opening five innings and kept her team in the game throughout. True went the distance and allowed four runs on three walks, nine hits, and three strikeouts.
Game Three
It was a new day but more of the same as the Tommies faced off against Tori Kniesche once again. The junior held the Toms to no runs on no hits and one walk with nine strikeouts through five nearly perfect innings.
The Jackrabbits went to the bullpen and Kaitlyn Raymond broke up the no-hit bid with one out in the bottom of the six.
Keira Murphy was nearly lights out to begin the game. Through three innings she did not allow a run and retired seven straight after a two-out walk in the first.
The Tommie defense committed five errors that played a part in seven of the Jackrabbit's eight runs.
Scouting Western Illinois
The Leathernecks (7-22 overall, 1-2 Summit) come into St. Paul after winning one of three games against North Dakota State in their Summit League opening series.
Their game-one win against the Bison snapped a 13-game losing streak that began on February 26th against the Lindenwood Lions.
Western Illinois is led by a couple of strong offensive players in the middle of their lineup. Bella Alvarez and Savannah Rodriguez each have OPS's over .900 (.992 and .926 respectively) and have combined for 48 hits, nine doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 25 RBI, 89 total bases and seven walks.
Their work in the circle has been balanced between two quality arms. Savannah Rodriguez has thrown 78.1 innings in 18 appearances for a 4.11 earned run average, 1.54 WHIP, and .285 BAA. She has tallied 77 strikeouts and 31 walks. Emily Price has tossed 78 innings in 16 appearances for a 3.23 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and .271 BAA with 70 strikeouts and 25 walks.
Series History
The Tommies and Leathernecks have matched up three times in their programs' histories. St. Thomas won two of the three meetings last season. The Purple outscored Western Illinois 26-15.
St. Thomas tallied 28 hits in the series and recorded ten strikeouts of Leatherneck hitters.
Brooke Ellestad got on base eight times, scored a run in each game, and brought home five RBI in the three game set.
That's a Fact
- The Tommies were walked 10 times in their series with South Dakota State
- They were hit by a pitch four times, Grace Bennett fell victim on three occasions (one in each game)
- They have stolen 38 bases in 46 attempts. They have matched their 50-game total from last season in just 32 games this season
- Avery Wukawitz had three stolen bases over the weekend and tied Kaitlyn Raymond's DI single-season record of 9 stolen bags. She is also just the fifth Tommie to steal two bases in one game (Goelz, Raymond, Ellestad, and Mickett) in the D1 era
- Katie Goelz recorded her 162nd putout of the season, surpassing Maddie Grad's 160 last year for most in a season in DI program history
- Avery Wukawitz remains one of six qualified fielders in the Summit with a perfect fielding percentage
- Abbi Stierlen became the 13th Tommie to record two walks in a game against South Dakota State on April 2nd
Players Mentioned
P/1B/3B
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
1B/OF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ SoftballP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF/SS
/ SoftballTommie Athletics Hall of Fame 2025
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