Program Outlook

Of the nearly 400 teams who compete nationally in Division III softball, St. Thomas is regarded as the nation’s model program.

Led by two-time National Coach of the Year John Tschida, the Tommies won back-to-back NCAA titles in 2004 and 2005. The 2006 Toms lost two one-run games at nationals to finish second nationally.

The 2007 Tommies won the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic and won 42 of their first 44 games before losing two close games in the NCAA regional tournament. Their 36-game win streak was the second longest in Division III history, and surpassed only by UST's 43-game streak in 2004-05. The Tommies led the nation in ERA, stolen bases and team winning percentage and were second in wins with 42.

The 2008 Tommies posted another 25-0 record vs. MIAC teams and finished 42-5.

Over the last five seasons, UST's overall record of 221-23 (.906) includes a 39-6 postseason record and a 123-2 record vs. conference foes.

After having no All-Americans in the program’s first 20 years, the Tommies have won the honor 15 times since 2003. After having just one Academic All-American in the program's first 25 years, the Toms have had eight in the last six seasons. Maria Bye closed her career in 2008 and received an NCAA Postgraduate scholarship; was named MIAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year; and became the first conference player to be a three-time first-team on field All-American and a three-time first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American.

Janet Nagle (2004) and Michelle Wong (2005) were each featured in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd. Both were the lone representatives for softball on the national ballot for the Division III Honda Women’s Athlete of the Year voting. Nagle and Nikki Conway played professional softball in summer 2006 with the Michigan Ice.

The Tommies have made the NCAA playoffs in 11 of the last 12 seasons. The Tommies are 262-17 combined in MIAC play in the last 11 seasons, with conference championships in five straight and eight of the last nine years.

St. Thomas won its final 41 games of 2004 to break a Division III record and pull within six wins of the all-division record for consecutive victories. They also had an unprecedented 25-0 record against MIAC opponents. The won 32 of their last 33 games in 2005 and became the first Division III team in 19 years to repeat as national champs.

The 2006 Tommies shattered the Division III record for home runs with 72 in 52 games, and tied the D-III season wins record in a 48-4 finish.

Tschida has compiled a 326-47 record in eight seasons at St. Thomas. Tschida’s 533-92 record (.844) in his 14-year college career ranks first nationally in Division III winning percentage. He coached his 500th college game in 2006.

In Tschida’s first season, the 2001 Tommies were conference co-champs at 20-2 and earned an NCAA playoff-at-large berth. The team broke 12 school records and finished 35-9, ranked 22nd nationally.

Tschida’s 2002 team went one step further. St. Thomas became just the second MIAC institution to play in the Division III softball College World Series. The Tommies won the NCAA regional championship for the first time in 11 tries and went on to tie for fifth at nationals. They set a school record for victories in their 38-9 finish, and their 21-1 MIAC record tied a conference mark for winning margin as they closed five games ahead of the runner-up teams. The Tommies broke more than a dozen school records and finished No. 5 in the final national rankings.

The 2003 Tommies went 20-2 in the conference but two-one losses denied them a chance to make the NCAA playoffs. They finished 32-6 and broke 11 team and individual season records. Catcher Gina Utecht became St. Thomas' first All-American, and shortstop Shannon Moore made Verizon Academic All-American.

The 2004 Tommies had three All-Americans (Wong, Nagle and Nikki Conway) and one CoSIDA Academic All-American (Kristi Huegel). The 2005 Toms had two more All-Americans (Wong, Huegel). Two UST players broke MIAC career records in 2005 – Wong for hits (239) and Conway for home runs (31).

The 2006 Toms had three players make both All-America and Academic All-America -- Conway, Maria Bye and Carrie Embree. Nagle finished second in Division III career winning percentage (84-7), and Conway finished first in runs and third in home runs in Division III history.

The 2007 Toms had two players -- Bye and Embree -- repeat as both All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-American. Embree became the first female in any sport in conference history to play on two NCAA title teams and twice make All-America and Academic All-America. She finished first in MIAC history in steals (109) and third in hits (216).

To prepare for the conference season and a possible NCAA tournament berth, St. Thomas plays 10 games against top Division III and NAIA teams in California; and also plays top teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

The Tommies have more than 25 players on their roster and play approxiamtely dozen junior-varsity games.