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Rosemount, Minn. - The Saint Benedict softball team opened the 2013 campaign today (Mar. 2), taking on the defending WIAC champions in UW-Eau Claire.

The Blugolds showed their strength in each game, taking an 8-0 win in the first, before completing the sweep with an 8-4 win in the second.

The Blazers were held to just two hits in game one, before putting up four on their way to four runs in the second. Lexi Alm led the way with two runs batted in, while Kimberly Lidstone scored twice.

On the day six different players recorded hits for the Blazers.

In the first game, the Blugolds broke open a scoreless tie with three runs in the third, using a double up the middle and a well-timed RBI-ground out to do their damage.

The next three half-innings went without a hit, as the Blazers slowed the Blugold offense, but were unable to capitalize. Over the final three innings, UWEC slowly added to its lead with two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

Rachel Nelson took the loss for the Blazers, going the distance while giving up eight hits, and six earned runs. She struck out two and walked three.

Game two was a more exciting affair, as the Blazers answered Blugold scores in three different innings. UW-Eau Claire started the scoring early with three in the bottom of the first.

The Blazers then came back with one each in the top of the second and third, and heading into the fourth it was a 4-2 game after three. The Blugolds added two in the bottom of the fourth - getting a two-run home run from Amanda Fischer – but undaunted the Blazers game right back with two more in the top of the fifth.

Stacy Svihel drove a sac fly to right to bring home Lonnica Johnson, and just one batter later, Lexi Alm sent a shot down the right field line to plate Kimberly Lidstone.

Unfortunately, the Blazer offense was stopped there, while the Blugolds added another two in the sixth to go up 8-4 for the eventual final.

First-year Emily Engelmeier got her first career start in game two, and suffers the loss, taking credit for six of the Blugolds eight runs. She went the complete game, recording her first career strikeout along the way, while issuing just one walk.

The season opener for each team, UW-Eau Claire starts the season 2-0, while Saint Benedict opens 0-2.

The Blazers will take next weekend off, before returning to play on Mar. 15 when they take on Minnesota Morris in the St. Cloud State Husky Dome.