The College of Saint Benedict softball team faced a difficult task Friday evening as they went up against Division II St. Cloud State University.  After dropping the opener 10-1 in five innings, the Blazers gave the Huskies a scare in the nightcap.  The Blazers (0-0 MIAC, 5-9 overall) rallied in the top of the seventh inning by scoring two runs, but it wasn't enough as the Huskies got out of a bases loaded jam to escape with a 3-2 win to complete the sweep.

In Game 1, junior centerfielder Abby Richardson (Storm Lake, IA, St. Mary's) started the game off with a triple down the right field line, but two batters later, Richardson was tagged out at home on a fielder's choice.  The Huskies tallied four runs in the bottom of the first, one in the second inning, and five in the third inning to take an early 10-0 advantage.  CSB got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when first-year player Traci Thielen (Cold Spring, MN, Rocori) singled down the left field line.  The ball was misplayed in the outfield allowing sophomore pinch runner Kristi Schammel (Maple Grove, MN, Maple Grove) to score from first base.  Schammel was running for senior Beth Hanson (Faribault, MN, Bethlehem Academy), who singled to start the inning.  Hanson finished the game 2-for-2.

In the nightcap, the Huskies got on the board first with an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning.  SCSU added two key insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead.  In the top of the seventh inning, junior Alyssa Kubesh (Buffalo Lake, MN, Buffalo Lake-Hector) started off the inning with a base hit to centerfield.  With one out, sophomore Sierra Dooley (Spring Lake Park, MN, Spring Lake Park) singled to centerfield to load the bases.  Junior Devin Bowlin (Winona, MN, Winona Cotter) drew a walk to drive in the first run of the game for CSB.  RIchardson drove in the next run with an infield single, but the Huskies retired the next batter to take the game 3-2.

Richardson went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the second game.  Dooley added a 2-for-3 performance at the plate for the Blazers.  Junior pitcher Elle Borba (Ontario, CA, St. Lucy's Priory) suffered the loss but kept the Huskies off balance for most of the game.  Borba scattered six hits, allowed two earned runs, and struck out two.

CSB will be back in action April 8th when they open up the conference season with a doubleheader at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.  The first game will start at 4 p.m.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score