University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, April 13
St. Paul, Minn.
12:00 p.m. Central
vs
North Dakota
Photo by: Tony Pasquesi
Softball welcomes North Dakota for Summit League series
4/12/2024 12:27:00 PM | Softball
The Tommies return home for three games against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks this weekend.
THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
WHERE TO WATCH
SERIES HISTORY
TOMMIES IN THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
SHE IS COOKIN'
Sophomore Ella Cook played the biggest role in St. Thomas' league series win over Kansas City. She got the starting nod in two games and allowed just two earned runs (one each game) during two complete games (14 IP) performances. Cook compiled a 0.50 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and .143 batting average against with nine strikeouts. She also went 5-11 at the plate and slashed .455/.455/.636 with two runs, doubles, an RBI and a stolen base.
LAUNCHING IN BOISE
The Tommies smashed five home runs in their game one loss to the Boise State Broncos last weekend. Those five long balls tied a program record and are the most in a single game by a Summit League team this season. South Dakota has one four home run game and South Dakota State has two, but no other team has smashed five over the fence in one game.
The five home runs came from four different bats, Abbi Stierlen, Maddie Grad, Kenzie Miller, and Ella Cook (2).
Maddie Grad's was her second of the season, she had hit one in each of the past two seasons. Kenzie Miller's was also her second after launching her first career home run against Boise State to open the 2024 season in Arizona. It was Stierlen's second of the year as well and second in five games. She too had not hit more than one in a season before the Boise blast.
Ella Cook's two home runs solidified her as a power threat. They were her career-best fourth and fifth of the season after she smacked two in 40 at-bats a year ago. She has seven total for her career, which ties her for third in program history with Avery Wukawitz.
SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
TRANSFERS
COACH TROTTER
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.
- The Tommies and North Dakota will play three games in two days this weekend, a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday.
- The opening games of the series are scheduled for 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at South Field in St. Paul.
- Sunday's game is set for a 11:00 a.m. first pitch.
- The Tommies come in with a 9-30 record after spoiling Omaha's 16-game win streak at home last weekend and sweeping the Green Bay Phoenix 20-2 in a nonconference doubleheader on Wednesday.
- North Dakota (7-34, 1-5 Summit League) is coming off a series loss to the South Dakota Coyotes in which they won the final game 2-1 last Sunday. They are 2-17 in their last 19 games and have the lowest RPI in the Summit League (272).
- The Fighting Hawks are led by senior, Johanna Rodriguez, she has a .721 OPS with 28 hits, and 13 RBI, all team-leading marks. Senior, Katie Joten, is second in the Summit League with 24 walks, just one behind the Tommies' Laken Lienhard.
- Time in the circle has been divided between Jackie Albrecht (96IP, 3.65 ERA), Camryn Lasota (73.1IP 4.96 ERA), and Makaela Carr (71 IP 5.62 ERA).
WHERE TO WATCH
- All three games against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks will be video streamed on the Summit League Network by Midco Sports Plus and can be found HERE.
SERIES HISTORY
- These two teams have been as even as can be when it comes to head-to-head matchups, each side with three wins aside, each winning two-of-three on their home field. The Tommies do hold a slight edge, outscoring the Fighting Hawks 50-41 in their six games played over the last two seasons.
- North Dakota has won three of the last four meetings, including two of three high-scoring games in Fargo last season, 18-13 and 9-8. They lost the middle game of the series 13-7.
- Christina Crawford pitched a complete game shutout in 2022, with just four hits and two walks allowed, she struck out five. Last-seasons everyday right fielder, CJ Jacobson brought home three on a three hit day that included a third-inning solo home run.
- The two teams combined for eight home runs during the three-game series last season, Avery Wukawitz (1), Brooke Ellestad (2), Ella Cook (1), and Katie Goelz (1), each placed the ball over the wall in the series.
TOMMIES IN THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
- Kaitlyn Raymond 13th in AVG (.313)
- Ella Cook 9th in OPS (.930)
- Avery Wukawitz 11th in OPS (.885)
- Christina Crawford 15th in OPS (.840)
- Avery Wukawitz T-10th in runs scored (23)
- Kaitlyn Raymond T-10th in runs scored (23)
- Kaitlyn Raymond 10th in hits (35)
- Ella Cook 12th in hits (33)
- Ella Cook T-6th in doubles (8)
- Avery Wukawitz T-6th in doubles (8)
- Wukawitz, Lienhard, and Raymond T-10th in triples (1)
- Ella Cook 1st in HR (8)
- Wukawitz T-10th in HR (4)
- Stierlen, Miller, Crawford, and Carby T-14th in HR (3)
- Ella Cook 2nd in RBI (35)
- Ella Cook 6th in total bases (65)
- Avery Wukawitz 10th in total bases (54)
- Ella Cook 6th in SLUG (.580)
- Avery Wukawitz 11th in SLUG (.505)
- Christina Crawford 13th in SLUG (.500)
- Laken Lienhard 1st in walks (25)
- Laken Lienhard 9th in OBP (.414)
- Avery Wukawitz 15th in OBP (.380)
- Avery Wukawitz T-2nd in stolen bases (11)
- Kaitlyn Raymond T-4th in stolen bases (10)
- Morgan Klein T-15th in stolen bases (3)
- Christina Crawford T-5th in CG (8)
- Ella Cook T-5th in CG (8)
- Ella Cook 4th in IP (101.1)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
- This weekend the Tommies are back for six straight home games to finish up their scheduled contests in St. Paul. First, with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks April 13-14 and then with the South Dakota Coyotes April 20-21.
- Their final four games of the season come against Iowa State on April 23 and South Dakota State on April 27-28.
SHE IS COOKIN'
Sophomore Ella Cook played the biggest role in St. Thomas' league series win over Kansas City. She got the starting nod in two games and allowed just two earned runs (one each game) during two complete games (14 IP) performances. Cook compiled a 0.50 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and .143 batting average against with nine strikeouts. She also went 5-11 at the plate and slashed .455/.455/.636 with two runs, doubles, an RBI and a stolen base.
LAUNCHING IN BOISE
The Tommies smashed five home runs in their game one loss to the Boise State Broncos last weekend. Those five long balls tied a program record and are the most in a single game by a Summit League team this season. South Dakota has one four home run game and South Dakota State has two, but no other team has smashed five over the fence in one game.
The five home runs came from four different bats, Abbi Stierlen, Maddie Grad, Kenzie Miller, and Ella Cook (2).
Maddie Grad's was her second of the season, she had hit one in each of the past two seasons. Kenzie Miller's was also her second after launching her first career home run against Boise State to open the 2024 season in Arizona. It was Stierlen's second of the year as well and second in five games. She too had not hit more than one in a season before the Boise blast.
Ella Cook's two home runs solidified her as a power threat. They were her career-best fourth and fifth of the season after she smacked two in 40 at-bats a year ago. She has seven total for her career, which ties her for third in program history with Avery Wukawitz.
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 718-504 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 Championships, 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.
Players Mentioned
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/ Softball
SS
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1B/OF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ SoftballP/UT
/ Softball
SS
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OF
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INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF/SS
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