The St. Thomas softball team got the two wins it needed to clinch a berth in next weekend’s MIAC playoffs in dominating fashion Saturday at South Field, outscoring Augsburg by a combined score of 26-1 in two games.

Needing to win both games to guarantee an appearance in the playoffs, the Tommies left nothing to chance on senior day, winning the first game 11-1 and dismantling the Auggies 15-0 in game two.

“The key is you win and you’re in the playoffs. It was a playoff game to get to the playoffs,” coach John Tschida said. “We always talk about playing at the highest level we can. Every time you pick up a glove, you’re either playing high-level or low-level softball. Today they played well in a lot of different areas. It was probably the best game they played all year.”

The Tommies were clicking right out of the box in game one.

Pitcher Breezy Bannon improved to 5-0 on the season and mowed down Auggie batters all afternoon, striking out four batters while allowing just three hits. The Tommie offense provided plenty of run support, scoring all 11 runs in the first three innings, including a six-run second inning.

Center fielder Bianca Peterson and designated hitter Katie Jo Delisle each drove in four runs, including a three-run home run from Delisle.

“Everyone was just really focused and taking hacks up there,” Bannon said. “We were all really excited because it was senior day and we wanted to go out with a bang.”

If the 11-1 score didn’t please the Tommie seniors, the 15-0 result in game two must have.

In another five-inning affair – due to the eight-run rule – both the pitching and hitting was sharp.

Pitchers Kendra Bowe and Bannon combined to only allow one hit in the game while the offense hit four home runs, including two from right fielder Annie Boyer.

“It was just kind of that go-getter attitude,” Boyer said. “Keeping it simple and keeping up the energy. Everyone just wanted to be aggressive today with it being the last home game of the season.”

Boyer and third baseman McKenzie Wergin both racked up five RBIs in the game while Wergin also joined the home run parade. Pinch hitter Brooke Pantilla was the other Tommie to homer, doing so in her one at-bat of the game after entering for Peterson.

The Tommie bats looked to be swinging with ease, something Tschida said was a product of a lot of hard work at practice.

“We’ve been working hard getting some kinks out of our swings, some good hard practices, and then the results showed up for several of them,” Tschida said. “Being aggressive in their counts and tougher battles with two strikes – those were the keys.”

The offense may have put up the flashy numbers in the sweep of Augsburg, but Tschida was also quick to remind people the pitchers were also dominant.

“Kendra is always tough. Even on a bad day she’s tough,” Tschida praised. “And then Breezy came in and did what she always does, attack people with strikes. She’s done a good job of throwing quality pitches early in the count.”

Winners of five straight games, the Tommies will now look to the playoffs. The momentum gained with the emphatic wins over Augsburg will be key to the team’s postseason run, according to Bannon.

“I think it’s good for us going into the playoffs to get two big wins like that,” Bannon said. “Going into playoffs, we just need to keep doing that offensively and keep playing solid defense, and hopefully we’ll get in some good games.”

“This is the time of year you want to keep going with that energy. Momentum is always really important at this point in the season,” Boyer said.

The Tommies will start their postseason against No. 1-seeded Bethel at 3 p.m on Friday. All playoff games will be held at Bethel University.

Scott Sikich can be reached at siki3549@stthomas.edu.