St. Thomas softball defeated North Dakota 2-1 in a 14-inning game on May 1 at South Field.
The match marked the Tommies’ second consecutive win over the Fighting Hawks and set a new program record with their 34th victory of the season. The extended pitchers’ duel saw North Dakota score first in the third inning, but St. Thomas pitcher Ava Kleinfeldt limited further damage by holding the visitors to one run across more than eleven innings pitched.
Kleinfeldt allowed six hits, three walks, and struck out seven batters before Ella Cook took over in relief during the twelfth inning. Cook earned the win after pitching two and two-thirds innings without giving up a hit or run, allowing only one walk and striking out two.
Laken Lienhard tied the game for St. Thomas in the fourth inning with an RBI single that brought Zoe Trotter home from second base with two outs. Despite recording twelve hits and four walks off North Dakota starter Tegan Livesay, St. Thomas managed just two runs throughout the contest.
The Tommies left runners on base multiple times between extra innings before finally breaking through in the fourteenth frame when Lienhard doubled to right center field and Avery Wukawitz delivered a walk-off double to secure victory.
St. Thomas will conclude its regular season tomorrow at noon on South Field.
