Softball down in Saint Louis for three games in two days

THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES

This weekend was originally scheduled to be a three-game series across two days between St. Thomas and St. Louis University. Due to scheduling complications the University of Illinois were added to the weekend slate. The Toms will play two games against the Billikens on Saturday and wrap the weekend up with a game against the Illini.
Game one against SLU is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday with game two commencing shortly after in true doubleheader format.
Game three, between the Tommies and Illinois is scheduled for noon on Sunday.
The Tommies come in with a 3-17 record through their first four weekends.
- Saint Louis is 10-5 (6-1 in their last seven)
- Illinois is 5-9 (1-3 in their last four)

LAST WEEKEND

The Tommies averaged over five runs per game last weekend but struggled on the defensive side of the ball and earned a 2-3 record in five games at the Cougar Invitational.
They took down Loyola in game one 4-3 and then fell in back-to-back games against Illinois State, 0-12, and Creighton, 8-16. An emphatic 11-3 win over the hosting Cougars was the highlight of the weekend before a 3-4 loss to Illinois State to wrap things up.
The Toms belted seven home runs in five games to bring their team total up to 13 through 20 games (0.65 per game). They hit 26 home runs in 53 games last season (0.49 per game).

WHERE TO WATCH

SLU will not be streaming this weekend's games.

TOMMIES IN THE SUMMIT LEAGUE RANKS

Avery Wukawitz 11^th in batting average (.345)
Kaitlyn Raymond 14^th in batting average (.319)
Christina Crawford 1^st in OPS (1.317)
Avery Wukawitz 8^th in OPS (1.019)
Avery Wukawitz 7^th in runs scored (16)
Avery Wukawitz 12^th in hits (20)
Avery Wukawitz 4^th in doubles (6)
Wukawitz and Laken Lienhard T-4^th in triples (1)
Ella Cook and Crawford T-4^th in HR (3)
Avery Wukawitz T-12^th in HR (2)
Ella Cook T-5^th in RBI (16)
Avery Wukawitz 9^th in total bases (34)
Christina Crawford leads in SLUG (.882)
Avery Wukawitz 8^th in SLUG (.586)
Ella Cook 14^th in SLUG (.472)
Laken Lienhard T-4^th in walks (12)
Christina Crawford 8^th in OBP (.439)
Avery Wukawitz 10^th in OBP (.433)
Avery Wukawitz 3^rd in stolen bases (7)

WHO'S HOT?

Avery Wukawitz is currently on a nine-game hitting streak dating back to 2/23. She slashed a dazzling .533/.563/.1.000 in her 15 at-bats in five games at the Cougar Invitational last weekend. She added five runs on eight hits, two doubles, one triple, one home run, four runs batted in, and two stolen bases. She averaged three total bases per game last weekend.
Christina Crawford took advantage of her role in the lineup last weekend at the Cougar Invite. She slashed .455/.563/.1.364 in 11 at-bats across five games. She had five hits, three of which cleared the fence. She too tallied 15 total bases while adding on nine runs batted in and four walks.
Kaitlyn Raymond has hit safely in six of her last seven games and added six hits and four runs scored last weekend.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Next, they head out to Boise, Idaho for their final tournament of the season at Boise State University. They will play Boise State, Idaho State, and Santa Clara.
Conference play begins on March 23 against the Kansas City Roos.
After opening Summit League play, the Tommies play four consecutive non-conference games. Two against Drake in Des Moines on March 26 and two at home the next day against the Phoenix of Green Bay.
They return to Summit League action that weekend with three against the Bison of North Dakota State in Fargo.

SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Christina Crawford was named the Tommies' Pitcher to Watch. The redshirt-sophomore missed the 2023 season due to injury but is expected to get a bulk of the innings in the circle this season. Her freshman year she pitched 130.1 innings with a 4.99 ERA and .279 batting average against. She also tallied 100 strikeouts including a program-record 19 strikeout performance. Crawford is the Toms DI program leader in: Strikeouts (100), K/9 (6.92), and WHIP (1.70).
Avery Wukawitz was named the Tommies' Player to Watch. The reigning Newcomer of the Year burst onto the scene last season with an extraordinary freshman season. She finished in the league's top-five in runs (40), total bases (94), slugging percentage (.584), on-base percentage (.449), stolen bases (19), and OPS (1.033). She is the DI program leader in triples (6).

TRANSFERS

Laken Lienhard is a third-year transfer from North Iowa Area Community College. In her two seasons with the Trojans she slashed .459/.555/.893 with a 1.448 OPS. Of her 133 hits, 67 went for extra bases with 27 home runs. She also pitched 278.1 innings to a 3.07 career ERA. She was named the inaugural Joan Joyce award winner which goes to the best Utility/pitcher player in all of NJCAA Division II. She is also a multi-time all-American.
Ruby Moore is a second-year transfer from NCAA Division II West Texas A&M. Her Buffs went 50-8 last season as she slashed .389/.500/.556 in 18 at-bats. She played in 49 games and made three starts. Moore also stole 10 bases on 11 attempts.

COACH TROTTER

Entering her third season for St. Thomas
Has a career coaching record of 711-492 across 22 seasons
Prior to St. Thomas, Trotter was the head coach at Missouri Western State, where she amassed 676 career wins (the most in the history of the MIAA) and a 676-404 overall record. She was a four-time MIAA Coach of the Year and led her team to two MIAA Regular Season Championsjops, two conference tournament championships, 11 NCAA Regional appearances, and 13 30-win seasons.

PRESEASON SUMMIT LEAGUE POLL
St. Thomas was picked tied for sixth place with Kansas City by the Summit League Head Coaches in this season's preseason poll. The Toms garnered 10 points after a 18-25 (6-14) record a season ago. St. Thomas did lose All-Summit League First-Teamer Brooke Ellestad but the Purple also retained the reigning Newcomer of the Year, Avery Wukawitz. South Dakota State came out on top in the poll with 34 points and four first place votes. The Mavericks of Omaha came in just underneath with 33 points and three first place votes. South Dakota and North Dakota State earned 24 and 22 points respectively while North Dakota finished four points in front of the Tommies and Roos.

Softball down in Saint Louis for three games in two days

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ella Cook

Christina Crawford

Brooke Ellestad

Laken Lienhard

Ruby Moore

Kaitlyn Raymond

Avery Wukawitz

University of St. Thomas Athletics

Softball down in Saint Louis for three games in two days

Related News

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ella Cook

Christina Crawford

Brooke Ellestad

Laken Lienhard

Ruby Moore

Kaitlyn Raymond

Avery Wukawitz

Related Videos