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The College of Saint Benedict softball team has recently been given the seventh seed in the new playoff style for the MIAC Tournament. Also in their pool is Bethel University and Augsburg College. The Bethel softball team was given the second seed in the MIAC after going 14-6 in conference play this year. Despite their stellar year they were given the second seed after the University of Saint Thomas went undefeated in conference play this year. Augsburg College, on the other hand was given the eleventh seed after only winning five games in conference play.
The Blazers need to be happy with this seeding because they are able to play two teams that they played very closely. Although they lost both games against Bethel early on, the games were relatively close. The score of the first game was 10-4 but the Blazers actually maintained the lead for about half the game until miscues on defense came into play. They allowed six unearned runs in total as the Royals pulled away.
The second game was much closer. The Royals were still hitting everything that was thrown at them, but it was their turn for defensive struggles which allowed the Blazers to put some runs on the board. A few late homeruns and a sacrifice fly ended the game with the Royals on top. They were both losses, but there is more to the story than just the scores.
In the Augsburg series the Blazers split. The first game was a tie until the very end of the game when the Auggies knocked in a run. It was a complete game start for first-year pitcher
Emily Engelmeier as she pitched very well, yet was forced to take the loss. The second game was completely different as the Blazers jumped out to a 7-0 lead before allowing two meaningless Auggie runs in the final frame.
It will be important for the Blazers to play well defensively in these two games. They have played these teams very tough but a few mistakes hurts them in each game. Rachael Nelson and
Emily Engelmeier have proved to be a solid battery in the pitching department while the Blazers also have veteran outfielder
Lexi Alm providing some solid hitting in the lineup.
Perhaps most importantly, however, is the fact that the Blazers have arguably the hottest hitter in the MIAC right now in first-year
Kim Lidstone. She has had a couple hitless games recently but still has an average of .428 on the year and 18 stolen bases. After a slow start defensively, she has recently proven to be a solid glove in the middle of the Blazer defense.
Pool play begins at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 3 for the majority of the teams but the first Blazer matchup is with Augsburg at 5 p.m. on Friday at Caswell Park in North Mankato, Minn. The Blazers will quickly follow that game up with the matchup against the second seed Royals at 7 p.m. They must win both games in order to advance to Saturday as only the top teams in each pool are allowed to advance. Saturday and Sunday will turn into double-elimination playoffs with the winner of the tournament gaining an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Plenty is on the line as the Blazers begin on Friday.
