http://miac-online.org/news/2013/5/4/SB_0504132331.aspx

NORTH MANKATO, Minn. -- The 2013 MIAC Softball Playoffs continued Saturday at Caswell Park in North Mankato, Minn. After a 12-team field was whittled to four Friday, Saturday's double-elimination tournament saw regular-season champion St. Thomas win both of its games to reach the championship, where it will face the winner of a Bethel vs. Gustavus semifinal.

The top-seeded Tommies (36-5) were victorious over both No. 5 Gustavus (14-18) and No. 2 Bethel (26-13) - the latter win coming via an eight-inning walk off home run. The Gusties and Royals both defeated third-seeded St. Olaf (15-16) in double-elimination play Saturday to keep their title hopes alive, and end the Oles run in the tournament. UST's thrilling victory over Bethel was the fourth walk-off win of the tournament, and second via a game-winning home run.

No. 1 St. Thomas 8, No. 5 Gustavus 0 (6 inn.) | Box Score |
The top seed stayed unbeaten in the 2013 MIAC Softball Playoffs thanks to a tremendous pitching performance and a big second inning. The Tommies took a 1-0 lead on Gustavus in the first, then erupted for five runs in the second. UST added another in the third, then invoked the eight-run rule with another in the bottom of the sixth to defeat the Gusties, 8-0.

Eight runs was more than enough for UST pitchers Kendra Bowe (4.0 IP, two hits, two Ks) and Breezy Bannon (2.0 IP, one hit, one walk), who combined for a three-hit shutout. Jenna Hoffman was tremendous in the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with a home run and Bianca Peterson also homered in a 2-for-3, two RBI performance. Kailey Morgan, Kate Rentschler and Kat Dahl collected Gustavus' three hits.

No. 2 Bethel 10, No. 3 St. Olaf 2 (6 inn.) | Box Score |
Second-seeded Bethel proved to be too much for St. Olaf in another first-round game, as the Royals consistently put runs on the board in a 10-2 win that was called after six innings. Bethel scored three in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and two final runs in the sixth enacted the eight-run rule.

Cristina Masten was one of the Royals' offensive stars, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Jess Newstrom went 4-for-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Karli Persson went the distance on the mound, striking out six and allowing just two Ole runs on four hits and no walks. Julie Fergus led the Oles offensively, going 2-for-2, and Becca Walz and Jessica Wilson were both 1-for-3 with a run.

No. 1 St. Thomas 3, No. 2 Bethel 2 (8 inn.) | Box Score |
The tournament's two 3-0 teams treated the fans at Caswell Park to a classic, as the top two seeds needed more than seven innings to decide a winner. With the score tied at two apiece, St. Thomas' Emily Gregory delivered one of the tournament's signature moments when she led off the inning with a walk-off home run that helped the Tommies stay unbeaten and advance to Sunday's championship game. It was the fourth walk-off win and second walk-off home run of the tournament.

Each team got on the board with a solo home run in the third. Bethel's Angie Jackson homered to give the Royals a lead, but UST's Mary Rentz answered with her own round-tripper to tie the game a half-inning later. St. Thomas took a 2-1 lead when McKenzie Wergin reached on a bunt single and came around to score on a passed ball, but Bethel got a home run from Masten to tie the score in the fifth, setting up the dramatic, extra-innings conclusion.

Bowe got the win in relief for UST, as she worked 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on one hit with no walks and two strikeouts. Persson was the tough-luck loser for Bethel as she limited a powerful Tommie offense to just three runs on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout. Kimmy Hassel, Wergin and Peterson each had two hits for St. Thomas, and five different Royals each recorded a hit in the loss.

No. 5 Gustavus 11, No. 3 St. Olaf 2 (6 inn.) | Box Score |
The tournament's host and top Cinderella story stayed alive and advanced to Sunday's semifinal, as Gustavus got an 11-2 win in an elimination game to end St. Olaf's postseason run. The Gusties did most of their damage during an eight-run third inning, and allowed just two second-inning runs to the Oles in the victory.

Jessica Williams was solid on the mound in victory for Gustavus. She allowed just two runs on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Five different Gusties had multi-hit games, led by Rentschler's 2-for-3, three-RBI performance. Breanne Rentschler, Carly Klass, Dahl and Paige Breneman also had two hits apiece and Williams helped her cause by driving in three runs.

Alex Lebens had a great game at the plate to lead the Oles, going 3-for-3 with a double and a run. Haley Schreier was 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI and Wilson and Fergus were each 1-for-3 in the season-ending loss for St. Olaf.

Semifinal, Championship set for Sunday
With the Oles eliminated, the other three will all advance to Sunday's action, with unbeaten St. Thomas already earning its spot in the championship game. Bethel and Gustavus - both 3-1 - will meet in an elimination semifinal game at 9 a.m. with the winner advancing to the 11:30 a.m. championship game against the Tommies. If UST loses that game, another final game will be needed to decide a champ at 2 p.m. The winner of the tournament will receive the MIAC Playoff championship plaque and the conference's automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament.

Complete details for the 2013 MIAC Softball Playoffs are available on the tournament's home page. Host school Gustavus provided live stats for all 12 round-robin pool games Friday, and also has offered live video for the remainder of the tournament (weather and staff permitting). The MIAC will update the Softball Playoff home page throughout the tournament with results, box scores, updated schedules, recaps, photos and more. Throughout the tournament, fans can interact on Facebook and Twitter (@MIAConline) using the hashtags #MIACSB and #MIACPlayoffs.

2013 MIAC Softball Playoff
Friday, May 3
POOL A - No. 1 St. Thomas advances
No. 1 St. Thomas 11, No. 10 Macalester 0 (5 inn.) | Box Score | Recap |
No. 8 St. Catherine 13, No. 10 Macalester 12 | Box Score | Recap |
No. 1 St. Thomas 6, No. 8 St. Catherine 2 | Box Score | Recap |

POOL B - No. 2 Bethel advances
No. 2 Bethel 11, No. 11 Augsburg 2 (6 inn.) | Box Score | Recap |
No. 7 Saint Benedict 8, No. 11 Augsburg 5 | Box Score | Recap |
No. 2 Bethel 7, No. 7 Saint Benedict 5 | Box Score | Recap |

POOL C - No. 3 St. Olaf advances
No. 3 St. Olaf 10, No. 12 Concordia 3 | Box Score | Recap |
No. 6 Hamline 11, Concordia 3 (5 inn.) | Box Score | Recap |
No. 3 St. Olaf 10, No. 6 Hamline 9 | Box Score | Recap |

POOL D - No. 5 Gustavus advances
No. 9 Carleton 11, No. 4 Saint Mary's 2 (5 inn.) | Box Score | Recap |
No. 5 Gustavus 7, No. 9 Carleton 6 | Box Score | Recap |
No. 5 Gustavus 8, No. 4 Saint Mary's 4 | Box Score | Recap |

Saturday, May 4
Game 1: No. 1 St. Thomas 8, No. 5 Gustavus 0 (6 inn.) | Box Score |
Game 2: No. 2 Bethel 10, No. 3 St. Olaf 2 (6 inn.) | Box Score |
Game 3: No. 1 St. Thomas 3, No. 2 Bethel 2 (8 inn.) | Box Score |
Game 4: No. 5 Gustavus 11, No. 3 St. Olaf 2 (6 inn.) | Box Score |

Sunday, May 5
Game 5: No. 2 Bethel vs. No. 5 Gustavus, 9 a.m. | Live Stats | Live Video |
Game 6: No. 1 St. Thomas vs. Winner Game 5, 11:30 a.m. | Live Stats | Live Video |
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 2 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video |
*Playoff Champions win the MIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament

2013 MIAC Softball Playoffs Home Page