St. Paul, Minn. – The Saint Benedict softball team squared off with probably its toughest competition of the season today (Apr. 27), as host St. Thomas won 9-4 and 4-1.
 
Ranked No. 11 in the country, the Tommies (29-5, 16-0 MIAC) keep their MIAC record perfect with the two wins, while the Blazers 18-16, 7-11 MIAC) suffer their first longest losing streak of the season at three straight games.
 
Worse than the loss, however, was the conclusion of Kim Lidstone's hitting streak, which was stopped at 31 games after she went hitless in the first game. Lidstone went on to finish 0-for-8 on the day, charting the first back-to-back hitless games of her career.
 
The Blazers were one-hit in the second game, their lowest total in a game this season. In the first game, Stephanie Best led the way with two hits, while four different runners scored.
 
All three of the Blazers pitchers took their turn in the circle in game one, with Rachel Thompson starting and taking the loss to fall to 1-3 on the season. Rachel Nelson then threw three innings, striking out three while walking just one, before Emily Engelmeier pitched the final two innings.
 
Nelson then threw the complete game in the second, allowing all four runs earned to fall to 10-6 on the year.
 
The Blazers went up 1-0 in the four in game two, but the Tommies scored the final four runs of the game for the comeback win.
 
The regular season wraps up tomorrow as the Blazers look to break out of their slump against Coach Click's alma mater. They head to St. Peter for a 2 p.m. first pitch on Sunday (Apr. 28) against Gustavus, before opening the MIAC Tournament on May 3 in Mankato.