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Northfield, Minn. – Three unearned runs in the eighth inning broke open a 3-3 game and led the Saint Benedict softball team on its way to a 6-3 win in game one over host St. Olaf today (Apr. 26). In game two, the tables turned, though, as St. Olaf used a four-run fourth to open up a 2-2 contest on the way to the split with their 6-2 win.

Kimberly Lidstone led the way with three more hits in the first game – on her way to four on the day – and extends her hitting streak to 29-straight games, dating back to the second game of the season. Her single in the eighth drove home the final run of the game one win, while she had one of just three Blazer hits in game two.

The Blazers' half of the eighth started with two ground outs in the first three batters, as Hannah Nelson came to the plate with two outs and a runner on second. She proceeded to connect for a single, while a pair of errors by the Ole's middle infielders allowed Stephanie Best to score from second for the eventual winning run.

One batter later, Nicole Nelson again had the benefit of an Ole miscue, which also allowed sister Hannah to come home to score. Finally Lidstone knocked home Nicole Nelson for the three-run lead.

Emily Engelemeir then threw a hitless eighth, closing out the win for her seventh of the year. Engelmeier came in two batters into the seventh in relief of starter Rachel Nelson, and threw two no-hit innings for the win, facing just one batter of the minimum.

Rachel Thompson started game two, and got hit for a two run double as the Ole's took the early lead. She would settle down though, holding the Ole's scoreless and to just two hits over the next three innings as the Blazers pulled the score even.

Then in the fifth, seven straight batters reached base as the Oles racked up four runs. Thompson was relieved two-thirds of the way through, but the damage was done, and she took credit for all four.

The Blazers couldn't muster a hit over the final two innings, in suffering the loss. In a bit of a slump, they've lost three of four after winning three straight, but still have yet to lose three straight games this season.

The Blazers are now 18-14 overall with a 7-9 record in MIAC play. The Oles get just their second conference win of the season at 2-6 in league action, while not standing 7-13 overall on the season.

The Blazers will return to action tomorrow, playing at St. Thomas with a 12:30 p.m. start to the doubleheader. This is a change from the original schedule that had the game to be played in St. Joseph as the Blazers first home game of the year. However the field is still too wet, prompting the move to St. Paul.