University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, April 12
St. Paul, Minn. / South Field
12:00 p.m. Central
vs
South Dakota State
Photo by: Maddie Kranz
Home sweet home; Tommie Softball hosts South Dakota State
4/11/2025 1:45:00 PM | Softball
The Tommies play at home for the first time in 352 days
ST. PAUL, Minn. – St. Thomas Softball (19-15 overall, 4-2 Summit League) is looking for some home cooking having dropped each of its last five games coming on the back of a five-game win streak. The Tommies face off with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (20-18, 5-1) this Saturday and Sunday. Their doubleheader begins at noon at South Field and concludes with a scheduled 2:30 first pitch for game two. The conference series finishes off with an 11:00 a.m. start on Sunday.
The Jackrabbits come into the weekend in first place in the Summit League and are 3-0 away from home in conference play. The Tommies are in third place, where they finished last season, and have won each of their two conference series against Omaha and South Dakota.
South Dakota State deploys three of the best bats in the conference. Abby Gentry, Brooke Dumont, and Emma Vike each have OPS numbers over 1.000. Gentry (1.277) and Dumont (1.250) are first and second in the conference, respectively. In the absence of all-time Jackrabbit great, Tori Kniesche, SDSU has not had the same dominance in the circle this season. Their 4.30 ERA is up nearly a run from last season's 3.41 mark. Kniesche (9.77 K/7) accounted for 204 of the team's 346 strikeouts a season ago, Tayler Baker (6.98 K/7) leads the team with 57 in 2025.
It's a Whole Staff Kinda Thing
The Tommie pitching staff of Christina Crawford, Ella Cook, Keira Murphy, and Ava Kleinfeldt have combined for a program-best 3.67 ERA in 221.2 innings pitched this season.
Most notably, they have all recorded a complete game shutout during 2025. Ella Cook was the first to do it on 2/8 against Green Bay (10-0 in five innings) followed by Ava Kleinfeldt on 2/23 in a 3-0 win over Incarnate Word. Christina Crawford followed that up with a 6-0 win over Wagner on 2/28 and then Keira Murphy pitched the program's first no-hitter on 3/2 in a 14-0 five-inning win over Wagner. Cook and Kleinfeldt each added a second complete game shutout on 3/22 against Omaha and 3/23 against Omaha.
Smashin' Cass
Cassidy Carby came into the 2025 season as the all-time home run leader for the Tommies with 13 and she currently leads the team with six round trippers this season. The redshirt junior smashed a program-record eight home runs back in 2022 and is on pace for nearly 8.5 this season.
Carby is having a career year with all-time bests in batting average, OBP, SLUG, OPS, runs, total bases, and doubles. Her .568 slugging percentage is second only to her teammate Laken Lienhard. She has tied her career high 35 hits in 24 fewer at-bats and 15 fewer games.
Her strikeout rate has also dropped precipitously this season; 29.6% in 2022, 26.5% in 2024, 21.6% in 2025.
Hit it to the Lake
Laken Lienhard has truly found her power stroke this season. The senior shortstop was a tremendous asset in the lineup last season with a Summit League leading 30 walks.
In 2025, Lienhard has been just as useful with a higher on-base percentage, but has also belted six home runs in the last 20 games (she did not have one in her first 64 games as a Tommie).
She has been the Tommies' best hitter this season with team leading marks in on-base percentage (.487), slugging percentage (.611), home runs (6), and walks (23). Her 1.098 OPS would be a single-season program record if the season ended today.
Taking Down the Gophers
On March 2nd, the Tommies took down their crosstown rival Minnesota Gophers for the first time. They came away with an 8-6 eight-inning victory in what was an instant classic.
Freshman, Ava Kleinfeldt got the win after coming into the game during the fourth inning. She went 4.2 innings and allowed just two hits, one run, and two walks, with two strikeouts. Avery Wukawitz and Ella Cook had the only two extra base hits (both doubles) as the Tommies slapped eight singles and drew three walks to manufacture a Power 4 victory.
Mistake Free Softball
The Purple are 11-2 this season when they do not commit an error in a game. They are 29-33 all-time when they do not commit an error.
Before this season, the Tommies played 49 mistake-free games of softball out of 153 games or 32%. This season, they have 13 games without errors, 38% of their 34 games, a considerable defensive improvement.
Their team .968 fielding percentage is a single-season program record and currently second in the Summit League.
They have also limited the number of two-plus error games with just nine this season as opposed to the 19 averaged across the last three seasons. The Tommies were 0-19 last season when committing two or more errors.
Fresh(man) Arm
The play of freshman Ava Kleinfeldt has been a revelation for the pitching staff and the Tommies as a whole. She has a 6-3 record and a 3.50 ERA in 66 innings pitched. That earned run average would be a program record if not for Ella Cook's tremendous 2.41 this season.
Kleinfeldt began the season 5-0 before losing her first career decision in a tight 3-1 ballgame against the University of Iowa over a week ago. She has allowed more than three runs in an appearance only once and already has one career complete game shutout.
Her nine strikeouts against New Mexico are a career high and the most by a Tommie true freshman since Christina Crawford's 19 strikeouts against Evansville in 2022. She struck out eight in her last appearance against the Wisconsin Badgers.
Somebody Catch that (Jack)Rabbit
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are unbeaten against the St. Thomas Tommies over the last three seasons. They have taken all eight of the matchups with a combined run differential of +48 for an average margin of victory of six.
Last season, the Jackrabbits hosted the Tommies and won each game, 8-0 in five innings and 5-2. The third game of the series was cancelled due to rain. Cassidy Carby homered in fourth inning of their last game.
South Dakota State and North Dakota State are the two remaining Summit League teams that the Tommies have not taken a Summit League series from. The Toms play the Bison to finish off the season at home on May 2-3.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Softball follow along on Instagram and Twitter at @TommieSoftball.
The Jackrabbits come into the weekend in first place in the Summit League and are 3-0 away from home in conference play. The Tommies are in third place, where they finished last season, and have won each of their two conference series against Omaha and South Dakota.
South Dakota State deploys three of the best bats in the conference. Abby Gentry, Brooke Dumont, and Emma Vike each have OPS numbers over 1.000. Gentry (1.277) and Dumont (1.250) are first and second in the conference, respectively. In the absence of all-time Jackrabbit great, Tori Kniesche, SDSU has not had the same dominance in the circle this season. Their 4.30 ERA is up nearly a run from last season's 3.41 mark. Kniesche (9.77 K/7) accounted for 204 of the team's 346 strikeouts a season ago, Tayler Baker (6.98 K/7) leads the team with 57 in 2025.
It's a Whole Staff Kinda Thing
The Tommie pitching staff of Christina Crawford, Ella Cook, Keira Murphy, and Ava Kleinfeldt have combined for a program-best 3.67 ERA in 221.2 innings pitched this season.
Most notably, they have all recorded a complete game shutout during 2025. Ella Cook was the first to do it on 2/8 against Green Bay (10-0 in five innings) followed by Ava Kleinfeldt on 2/23 in a 3-0 win over Incarnate Word. Christina Crawford followed that up with a 6-0 win over Wagner on 2/28 and then Keira Murphy pitched the program's first no-hitter on 3/2 in a 14-0 five-inning win over Wagner. Cook and Kleinfeldt each added a second complete game shutout on 3/22 against Omaha and 3/23 against Omaha.
Smashin' Cass
Cassidy Carby came into the 2025 season as the all-time home run leader for the Tommies with 13 and she currently leads the team with six round trippers this season. The redshirt junior smashed a program-record eight home runs back in 2022 and is on pace for nearly 8.5 this season.
Carby is having a career year with all-time bests in batting average, OBP, SLUG, OPS, runs, total bases, and doubles. Her .568 slugging percentage is second only to her teammate Laken Lienhard. She has tied her career high 35 hits in 24 fewer at-bats and 15 fewer games.
Her strikeout rate has also dropped precipitously this season; 29.6% in 2022, 26.5% in 2024, 21.6% in 2025.
Hit it to the Lake
Laken Lienhard has truly found her power stroke this season. The senior shortstop was a tremendous asset in the lineup last season with a Summit League leading 30 walks.
In 2025, Lienhard has been just as useful with a higher on-base percentage, but has also belted six home runs in the last 20 games (she did not have one in her first 64 games as a Tommie).
She has been the Tommies' best hitter this season with team leading marks in on-base percentage (.487), slugging percentage (.611), home runs (6), and walks (23). Her 1.098 OPS would be a single-season program record if the season ended today.
Taking Down the Gophers
On March 2nd, the Tommies took down their crosstown rival Minnesota Gophers for the first time. They came away with an 8-6 eight-inning victory in what was an instant classic.
Freshman, Ava Kleinfeldt got the win after coming into the game during the fourth inning. She went 4.2 innings and allowed just two hits, one run, and two walks, with two strikeouts. Avery Wukawitz and Ella Cook had the only two extra base hits (both doubles) as the Tommies slapped eight singles and drew three walks to manufacture a Power 4 victory.
Mistake Free Softball
The Purple are 11-2 this season when they do not commit an error in a game. They are 29-33 all-time when they do not commit an error.
Before this season, the Tommies played 49 mistake-free games of softball out of 153 games or 32%. This season, they have 13 games without errors, 38% of their 34 games, a considerable defensive improvement.
Their team .968 fielding percentage is a single-season program record and currently second in the Summit League.
They have also limited the number of two-plus error games with just nine this season as opposed to the 19 averaged across the last three seasons. The Tommies were 0-19 last season when committing two or more errors.
Fresh(man) Arm
The play of freshman Ava Kleinfeldt has been a revelation for the pitching staff and the Tommies as a whole. She has a 6-3 record and a 3.50 ERA in 66 innings pitched. That earned run average would be a program record if not for Ella Cook's tremendous 2.41 this season.
Kleinfeldt began the season 5-0 before losing her first career decision in a tight 3-1 ballgame against the University of Iowa over a week ago. She has allowed more than three runs in an appearance only once and already has one career complete game shutout.
Her nine strikeouts against New Mexico are a career high and the most by a Tommie true freshman since Christina Crawford's 19 strikeouts against Evansville in 2022. She struck out eight in her last appearance against the Wisconsin Badgers.
Somebody Catch that (Jack)Rabbit
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are unbeaten against the St. Thomas Tommies over the last three seasons. They have taken all eight of the matchups with a combined run differential of +48 for an average margin of victory of six.
Last season, the Jackrabbits hosted the Tommies and won each game, 8-0 in five innings and 5-2. The third game of the series was cancelled due to rain. Cassidy Carby homered in fourth inning of their last game.
South Dakota State and North Dakota State are the two remaining Summit League teams that the Tommies have not taken a Summit League series from. The Toms play the Bison to finish off the season at home on May 2-3.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Softball follow along on Instagram and Twitter at @TommieSoftball.
Players Mentioned
C/UT
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
SS
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballOF/SS
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