University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, February 27
Tuscaloosa, Ala. / Rhoads Stadium
1:30 p.m. CT
12-4
8
vs
0
Kent State
8-8
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
St. Thomas
3
0
0
5
0
8
8
1
Kent State
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Softball battles to split at Crimson Classic
2/27/2026 6:18:00 PM | Softball
The Tommies run-ruled Kent State and that gave undefeated Alabama all it could handle
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – St. Thomas Softball (12-5) won its fifth straight and fourth consecutive run-rule game in an 8-0 victory over Kent State (8-8) before falling 2-0 to #7 Alabama (15-0). Ava Kleinfeldt worked a complete game shutout, and Ella Cook allowed just two runs across six innings to an Alabama offense that averages over 7.5 runs per game.
Game One
With instant run support and tremendous efficiency, Ava Kleinfeldt worked a one-hit complete game shutout with one walk and three strikeouts on just 62 total pitches. The sophomore faced just three batters above the minimum and induced 10 ground outs en route to the 8-0 win in five innings.
That run support started with a three-run top of the first. Avery Wukawitz, who is top 25 in the country with 24 runs scored this season, led off the ballgame with a double and later scored on an Ella Cook single. Morgan Klein played clean-up from the seven spot with a two-run double. Kleinfeldt worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the first.
Neither team scored in the second or third innings before the Toms broke the game open in the fourth.
Zoe Trotter led off the five-run inning with a walk and advanced to second on a Ruby Moore single. Wukawitz scored Trotter on a single and Moore scored on a SAC fly from Laken Lienhard. Ella Cook doubled home Wukawitz and then Kameron Monson scored Miley Wichman and Cook to get the Tommies in run-rule territory.
Kleinfeldt needed just six pitches to work a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, and nine pitches to work a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth.
The Toms got eight hits from six different bats. Wukawitz and Cook each tallied a pair of base knocks.
Game Two
Outside of a first-inning two-run home run, Ella Cook went toe-to-toe with one of the best offenses in the country and did not blink. She tossed six innings, allowed just the two runs on four hits, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Two runs in a single game are the fewest scored by the Crimson Tide this season. Four hits are also the fewest tallied by the Tide during their undefeated start to 2026.
The Toms' best chance at a run came in the fourth inning. Laken Lienhard reached on a one-out walk and was pinch run for by Miley Wichman. Cook pushed Wichman to second on a two-out single but that was all for the offense.
In total, the Toms tallied a pair of hits (Cook and Abbi Stierlen), Lienhard drew two walks, and the defense did not commit a single error.
Up Next
The Tommies get right back to work with two games at the Crimson Classic against South Florida at 4:00 pm and Kent State at 6:30 pm.
Follow Along
For any and all information pertaining to the St. Thomas softball team, follow along on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) at @TommieSoftball.
Game One
With instant run support and tremendous efficiency, Ava Kleinfeldt worked a one-hit complete game shutout with one walk and three strikeouts on just 62 total pitches. The sophomore faced just three batters above the minimum and induced 10 ground outs en route to the 8-0 win in five innings.
That run support started with a three-run top of the first. Avery Wukawitz, who is top 25 in the country with 24 runs scored this season, led off the ballgame with a double and later scored on an Ella Cook single. Morgan Klein played clean-up from the seven spot with a two-run double. Kleinfeldt worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the first.
Neither team scored in the second or third innings before the Toms broke the game open in the fourth.
Zoe Trotter led off the five-run inning with a walk and advanced to second on a Ruby Moore single. Wukawitz scored Trotter on a single and Moore scored on a SAC fly from Laken Lienhard. Ella Cook doubled home Wukawitz and then Kameron Monson scored Miley Wichman and Cook to get the Tommies in run-rule territory.
Kleinfeldt needed just six pitches to work a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, and nine pitches to work a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth.
The Toms got eight hits from six different bats. Wukawitz and Cook each tallied a pair of base knocks.
Game Two
Outside of a first-inning two-run home run, Ella Cook went toe-to-toe with one of the best offenses in the country and did not blink. She tossed six innings, allowed just the two runs on four hits, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Two runs in a single game are the fewest scored by the Crimson Tide this season. Four hits are also the fewest tallied by the Tide during their undefeated start to 2026.
The Toms' best chance at a run came in the fourth inning. Laken Lienhard reached on a one-out walk and was pinch run for by Miley Wichman. Cook pushed Wichman to second on a two-out single but that was all for the offense.
In total, the Toms tallied a pair of hits (Cook and Abbi Stierlen), Lienhard drew two walks, and the defense did not commit a single error.
Up Next
The Tommies get right back to work with two games at the Crimson Classic against South Florida at 4:00 pm and Kent State at 6:30 pm.
Follow Along
For any and all information pertaining to the St. Thomas softball team, follow along on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) at @TommieSoftball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kleinfeldt, Ava (5-2)
L: Miller, Riley (5-4)
Batting:
2B: Wukawitz, Avery 1 ; Cook, Ella 1 ; Stierlen, Abbi 1 ; Klein, Morgan 1
RBI: Wukawitz, Avery 1 ; Lienhard, Laken 1 ; Cook, Ella 2 ; Monson, Kameron 2 ; Klein, Morgan 2
SF: Lienhard, Laken 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wukawitz, Avery 2 ; Wichman, Miley 1 ; Cook, Ella 2 ; Stierlen, Abbi 1 ; Trotter, Zoe 1 ; Moore, Ruby 1
Base Running:
SB: Nogay, Aaralyn 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
P/UT
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
SS
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
Ut.
/ SoftballOF/SS
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