St. Thomas softball won both games of its Summit League doubleheader against North Dakota State on April 15 at Tharaldson Park in Fargo, North Dakota.
The sweep is significant for St. Thomas as it improves their record to 27-13 overall and 9-4 in the Summit League, while North Dakota State falls to a .500 season record at 20-20 and stands at 4-5 in league play.
In the first game, St. Thomas scored six of their ten runs with two outs. Cassidy Carby hit her ninth home run of the season in the opening inning, giving pitcher Ava Kleinfeldt an early lead. Kleinfeldt pitched a complete game, allowing only two runs and scattering six hits over seven innings. The Tommies added four more runs in the third inning with key hits from Carby and Zoe Trotter, extending their lead throughout the game.
Game two saw St. Thomas take another early lead before North Dakota State responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Laken Lienhard tied it up for St. Thomas in the second inning, and Ella Cook delivered a strong pitching performance after that point. Carby continued her strong day by hitting her tenth home run of the season during this game as well.
The Tommies built on their advantage through consistent hitting from players like Wukawitz, Trotter, Stierlen, and Cook herself—who also contributed offensively with an RBI single—and maintained control until Cook finished off her complete-game victory by holding NDSU scoreless over the final two innings.
Looking ahead, St. Thomas will have a weekend break before traveling to Wisconsin for doubleheaders against Green Bay on April 20 and Wisconsin on April 21.
