The College of Saint Benedict Blazer softball team (12-4 overall, 4-0 MIAC) picked up another pair of MIAC wins Sunday afternoon in St. Paul, Minn. against Macalester College.

Saint Benedict extended their win streak to eight with two 1-0 wins over the Scots. The first game of the double header remained scoreless until the top of the sixth. Saint Benedict got on base when sophomore right fielder Nicole Kirkvold (Winona, MN, Winona Cotter) was hit by a pitch. Sophomore center fielder Lexi Alm (Stacy, MN, Forest Lake) continued to show her consistency at the plate with a single to left field that allowed Kirkvold to advance to second and enter scoring position. Next at the plate was sophomore infielder Maddie Lenker (Eden Prairie, MN, Eden Prairie). Lenker reached first on a throwing error by the Scot's pitcher which allowed Alm to reach third. Kirkvold reached home with an unearned run to give the Blazers a 1-0 lead and their seventh straight win of the season.

Earning her seventh win of the season on the mound for the Blazers was sophomore pitcher Rachel Nelson (Lindstrom, MN, Chisago Lakes). Nelson pitched all seven innings for Saint Benedict, allowing only four hits while striking out seven batters. First-year left fielder Lonnica Johnson (Stillwater, MN, Hill-Murray) went 4-3 at the plate and Kirkvold picked up a run for the Blazers.

The Blazers picked up their fourth MIAC win of the season in game two of the double header. Saint Benedict got on the board early with a run in the top of the third. CSB started the inning with a single by first-year shortstop Emma Zierden (Avon, MN, Albany).  Zierden advanced to second on a ground out to third base by Kirkvold. Lonni Johnson stepped up to the plate with only one out and Zierden in scoring position. The first-year singled up the middle to send Zierden home and gave the Blazers a 1-0 lead and the eventual win.

Sophomore Trisha Johnson (New Ulm, MN, New Ulm) earned her fifth win of the season going all seven innings for the Blazers. Johnson struck out three batters. Sophomore infielder Kelsey McQuillan (Stillwater, MN, Stillwater) went 2-4 and Lonni Johnson was 1-4 with a RBI. Zierden went 1-3 with a run scored.

Saint Benedict returns to action at 3:30 pm on Tuesday April 3rd, when they host conference opponent St. Olaf College in St. Joseph, Minn.