The College of Saint Benedict Blazer softball team (15-7 overall, 7-3 MIAC) split a series of games with conference opponent Carleton College Wednesday afternoon in Northfield, Minn.

Saint Benedict picked up their seventh conference win in game one of the series with a 3-2 win over the Knights. The Blazers took a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, earning runs from sophomore Nicole Kirkvold (Winona, MN, Winona Cotter), and first-years Emma Zierden (Avon, MN, Albany) and Emma Steck (Kansas City, MO, St. Teresa's Academy). The Knights brought the game within one scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to overcome the strong Blazer defense.

Picking up her 10th win of the season on the mound for the Blazers was sophomore Rachel Nelson (Lindstrom, MN, Chisago Lakes). Nelson went all seven innings for Saint Benedict picking up four strikeouts and only allowing one earned run. First-year Lonnica Johnson (Stillwater, MN, Hill-Murray) went 4-2 with an RBI and a double. Sophomore Kelsey McQuillan (Stillwater, MN, Stillwater) was 4-1 with an RBI and a double and sophomoreLexi Alm (Stacy, MN, Forest Lake) went 4-1 with a double. Steck picked up a double and a run as she went 3-1 at the plate. Senior Sierra Dooley (Spring Lake Park, MN, Spring Lake Park) was 3-1 with an RBI and Kirkvold went 2-1 with a run scored. Zierden picked up a run and went 2-1 at the plate.

The Blazers dropped game two of the series in an eighth inning 4-3 loss where they made four errors. Carleton outhit Saint Benedict 9-7 in the Blazers loss. Saint Benedict took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by first-year Mackenzie Wenner (St. Peter, MN, St. Peter) that allowed Alm to score. The Knights tied the game in the bottom of the seventh to force an eighth inning where the Blazers took a 1-0 lead off a run by Dooley. Carleton scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to hand the Blazers their third conference loss of the season.

Nelson picked up her third loss of the season on the mound coming into relief for sophomore Trisha Johnson (New Ulm, MN, New Ulm). Johnson pitched six innings for the Blazers picking up five strikeouts while allowing five hits and one unearned run. Nelson went 1.2 innings with one strikeout, four hits, and two earned runs. Alm went 4-2 with a triple and a run and an RBI and Dooley was 3-1 with a run scored.

Saint Benedict returns to action at 1 pm on Saturday April 14th, when they travel to Moorhead, Minn. to play conference opponent Concordia College.