The College of Saint Benedict softball team squared off against the nationally ranked University of St. Thomas Friday evening in St. Joseph, Minn.  The Blazers stayed right with the Tommies in game one but fell 8-7 with the go-ahead run being scored in the top of the seventh inning.  In the nightcap, CSB could not overcome an early deficit and fell 6-2.

A second inning RBI single from senior third baseman Kristen Herges and a two-RBI double from senior centerfielder Abby Richardson helped the Blazers gain a 3-0 lead in the opener.  The Tommies answered with three runs of their own in the top half of the fourth inning before the Blazers reclaimed the lead when Devin Bowlin singled to move pinch runner first-year Nicole Kirkvold to third.  UST rushed the throw in an attempt to throw out Bowlin allowing Kirkvold to score.  The Tommies put another three runs on the board in the fifth inning to take the lead at 6-4.  With the bases load in the bottom half of the inning, Bowlin hit a double past a diving left fielder to clear the bases and put the Blazers up 7-6.  CSB was unable to maintain the lead as UST scored a run in both the sixth and seventh innings to take the opener 8-7.

Bowlin paced the CSB offense with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate including a double, run scored, and three RBIs.  Herges went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, and senior Alyssa Kubesh added a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

In game two, the Tommies jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two and a half innings.  The Blazes got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when first-year second baseman Stacy Svihel knocked in Herges with a single to right field.  CSB added another run in the next inning on an RBI single from junior Lis Wieneke to make the score 5-2.  The Tommies added a run in the top of the fifth inning and held on to complete the sweep.

Svihel went 3-for-3 with an RBI in game two to lead the Blazers.  First-year pitcher Amanda Eaton was effective in relief as she held the Tommies to one run on five hits over four innings.

CSB will travel to Gustavus Adolphus College tomorrow, April 30 for a doubleheader starting at noon.