University of St. Thomas Athletics
Thursday, March 27
Vermillion, S.D. / Nygaard Field
4:00 p.m. Central
18-10, 0
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South Dakota
19-13, 0
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St. Thomas
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South Dakota
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Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Tommies win fourth consecutive over South Dakota behind productive first inning
3/27/2025 6:37:00 PM | Softball
Softball scored all seven runs in the first inning; Ella Cook earned the complete game victory
VERMILLION, S.D. – St. Thomas Softball (18-10 overall, 3-1 Summit League) tied its program record with its 18th win of the season and fourth in a row on Thursday evening against the South Dakota Coyotes (19-13, 2-2) behind a seven-run first inning and strong defensive effort.
Ella Cook went the distance with a complete game victory in the circle. The Tommies' defense committed no errors and Laken Lienhard added seven assists at shortstop. St. Thomas is now 11-0 this season when not committing an error.
Recap
The St. Thomas Tommies scored early and often with seven runs on five hits and two errors in the top of the first inning. Laken Lienhard got the rally started with a one out double down the left field line, it was the only extra base hit of the game for the Purple.
Lienhard advanced to third and Cassidy Carby reached on an error by the Coyote shortstop. The Tommies' starting pitcher gave herself some run support with an RBI single to left center field. Kaitlyn Raymond followed that single up with a bunt single of her own to load the bases.
Abbi Stierlen reached on an error by the third baseman, Cook and Carby each scored on the play. Kameron Monson then reached on a fielder's choice when the Coyotes attempted to retire Raymond at home. Ruby Moore reached on a fielder's choice to score Stierlen with two outs. Avery Wukawitz singled to left field during her second at-bat of the inning to score Monson.
Laken Lienhard, who got the whole party started singled to center field to score Moore and put the Toms out in front 7-0.
St. Thomas would not score another run, but it did not matter because Ella Cook continued her tremendous season in the circle with a pitching line of seven innings pitched, one earned run on four hits, one walk, and a strikeout. The Coyotes did not record hit until there were two outs in the fifth inning and they did not score their only run until the sixth. Cook worked a 1-2-3 seventh, one of the four perfect innings she tossed on Thursday.
Up Next
The Tommies are right back at it tomorrow afternoon against the Coyotes in Vermillion for a Summit League doubleheader at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m.
Ella Cook went the distance with a complete game victory in the circle. The Tommies' defense committed no errors and Laken Lienhard added seven assists at shortstop. St. Thomas is now 11-0 this season when not committing an error.
Recap
The St. Thomas Tommies scored early and often with seven runs on five hits and two errors in the top of the first inning. Laken Lienhard got the rally started with a one out double down the left field line, it was the only extra base hit of the game for the Purple.
Lienhard advanced to third and Cassidy Carby reached on an error by the Coyote shortstop. The Tommies' starting pitcher gave herself some run support with an RBI single to left center field. Kaitlyn Raymond followed that single up with a bunt single of her own to load the bases.
Abbi Stierlen reached on an error by the third baseman, Cook and Carby each scored on the play. Kameron Monson then reached on a fielder's choice when the Coyotes attempted to retire Raymond at home. Ruby Moore reached on a fielder's choice to score Stierlen with two outs. Avery Wukawitz singled to left field during her second at-bat of the inning to score Monson.
Laken Lienhard, who got the whole party started singled to center field to score Moore and put the Toms out in front 7-0.
St. Thomas would not score another run, but it did not matter because Ella Cook continued her tremendous season in the circle with a pitching line of seven innings pitched, one earned run on four hits, one walk, and a strikeout. The Coyotes did not record hit until there were two outs in the fifth inning and they did not score their only run until the sixth. Cook worked a 1-2-3 seventh, one of the four perfect innings she tossed on Thursday.
Up Next
The Tommies are right back at it tomorrow afternoon against the Coyotes in Vermillion for a Summit League doubleheader at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cook, Ella (7-6)
L: McKenna Young (8-5)
Batting:
2B: Lienhard, Laken 1
RBI: Wukawitz, Avery 1 ; Lienhard, Laken 1 ; Cook, Ella 1 ; Monson, Kameron 1 ; Moore, Ruby 1
SH: Monson, Kameron 1 ; Moore, Ruby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lienhard, Laken 1 ; Carby, Cassidy 1 ; Cook, Ella 1 ; Raymond, Kaitlyn 1 ; Stierlen, Abbi 1 ; Monson, Kameron 1 ; Moore, Ruby 1
SB: Wukawitz, Avery 1
CS: Raymond, Kaitlyn 1
HBP: Monson, Kameron 1
Batting:
RBI: Brynnly German 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Isabel Carda 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/UT
/ SoftballSS
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF/SS
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