St. Thomas defeats Cortland, 10-2 (6 innings)

The Tommies of The University of St. Thomas (MN) took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning and never looked back, finishing off the Red Dragons of Cortland State (NY), 10-2, in the fourth game of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.  The contest ended with two outs in the bottom of the sixth when St. Thomas scored two runs.

In the five-run third inning, the Tommies were led by sophomore catcher Nikki Conway, with a two-run double.  Junior designated player Katie Wiberg drove in one run on a single.

Cortland (37-8) scored one run in the top of the fourth.  Junior center fielder Kim Huson singled, and came home on a double by senior shortstop Lara Stone.

St. Thomas (43-4) answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 8-1.  Conway hit another double, bringing in one run.  Senior third baseman Kaja Martinson drove in one run on a single, and senior right fielder Kathleen Fitzpatrick also had a base hit.

The Red Dragons scored one more run, in the top of the sixth.  Huson had a single again in that inning, but the run was actually scored on two consecutive errors by the Tommies.

The game would end in the bottom of the sixth, as St. Thomas scored twice.  Freshman left fielder
Carrie Embree singled to lead off the inning.  Martinson brought Embree home on a base hit, and would later score herself on a single by sophomore pitcher Janet Nagle

St. Thomas was led offensively by Conway and Martinson, who both batted 2-for-3.  Conway also had two doubles and three RBIs, while Martinson had two RBIs.

For Cortland State, Huson went 2-for-3.  Stone hit a double.

Nagle earned the complete-game victory, striking out five batters and giving up only four hits and two walks.

Cortland sophomore starting pitcher  Stephanie Adamshick recorded two strikeouts and surrendered just one hit and three walks.  Freshman Ang D’Amboise struck out three batters.