Top-seeded St. Thomas completed a 5-0 run through the MIAC softball tournament with an 8-1 victory over Bethel in Sunday's championship game in North Mankato, Minn.
Tommies shortstop Jenna Hoffman slugged two home runs, including a three-run blast, and a double among her four hits in the final, and pitchers Morgan Murphy and Kendra Bowe combined to allow one unearned run, six hits and no walks. Murphy got the victory, the 26th in a row for the Tommies (37-5).
St. Thomas has won the title in all 10 years of the event.
Bethel (28-15), which also finished runner-up to the Tommies in the regular season and lost 8-0 to St. Thomas on Saturday, reached Sunday's final by defeating host Gustavus Adolphus, the No. 5 seed, 5-2 earlier Sunday.
U drops finale at PSU
The Gophers baseball team lost 4-3 to Penn State in 10 innings in their series finale in State College, Pa.
The Nittany Lions' Taylor Skerpon beat a throw to first on a bases-loaded fielder's choice in the 10th for the winning run.
The Gophers had failed to score after loading the bases with no outs in the top of the 10th. Andy Henkemeyer had two of Minnesota's seven hits.
U softball rallies for win
Erica Meyer's infield hit drove in the winning run, capping a two-run rally in the seventh that gave the Gophers a 5-4 softball victory over Indiana at Cowles Stadium.
