The College of Saint Benedict sofball team split for the fourth consecutive time this season Thursday afternoon at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Florida.  The Blazers fell 3-1 to Illinois Wesleyan University in eight innings but came back to defeat Centenary College 2-1.  CSB is now 4-4 overall on the season.

In the opener, the Blazers dropped an extra-inning game to a strong Illiniois Wesleyan team.  First-year pitcher Rachel Nelson (Lindstrom, MN, Chisago Lakes) pitched seven scorless innings and only allowed two hits, but it wasn't enough as IWU scored three runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Blazers 3-1.

A pair of strong pitching performances from first-year Trisha Johnson (New Ulm, MN, New Ulm) and junior Emma Alwin (Plymouth, MN, Wayzata) led the way for CSB against Centenary College.  Johnson went the first three innings without allowing a run before Alwin took over for the final four innings.  Alwin only allowed three hits and one unearned run as she picked up the win.  Senior shortstop Devin Bowlin (Winona, MN, Winona Cotter) got CSB on the board early with an RBI double down the left field line to put the Blazers up 1-0.  In the fourth inning, first-year Maddie Lenker (Eden Prairie, MN, Eden Prairie) knocked in senior Alyssa Kubesh (Buffalo Lake, MN, Buffalo Lake-Hector) with an RBI single to right field.

CSB will play St. Norbert College and Montclair State University on Friday at 9 am and 1 pm.