CLERMONT, Fla. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team improved its record to 5-5 in Florida Friday afternoon with a pair of wins on its fifth day of play during its spring training trip in Clermont, Fla. The Blazers, who are now 7-5 overall, started the day with a 3-2 win over Lebanon Valley and finished with a 7-1 victory against Northwestern (Minn.).
 
In the win against Lebanon Valley – which is ranked No. 23 in the NFCA Division III poll – CSB got on the board first with a pair of first-inning runs. Bailey O'Hotto doubled and scored on an RBI double by Sara Wennerstrand, and O'Hotto scored on an RBI single by Melissa Seldon to make it 2-0.
 
The Blazers held that lead until the fifth inning when LVC reached on an error and then scored on an RBI single. Lebanon Valley tied the score in the sixth thanks to two hits and a Blazer error, but CSB took advantage of an LVC error in the seventh to score all the runs it would need. Kim Lidstone reached on an error and moved to second before LVC got the ball to the pitcher. She moved to third on a single by O'Hotto and scored on a wild pitch to put CSB up 3-2. Cassie Meyer struck out one batter and got a pop out and a ground out in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
 
O'Hotto and Wennerstrand each had a pair of hits for the Blazers, who had eight total hits. Cassie Meyer threw all seven innings to earn the win on the mound. She gave up two runs – none earned – on five hits and struck out three batters.
 
In CSB's second game of the day, Northwestern got on the board first thanks to a pair of singles in the first inning, but the Blazers scored the eventual game-winner in the bottom of the inning. Lidstone walked but was later caught stealing, then O'Hotto walked and Wennerstrand singled. Jamie Scherer came in to run for Wennerstrand, and was caught stealing but O'Hotto made it home on the throw to second to tie the game at one. Seldon reached on an error and scored on an RBI double by Taylor Ellingon to make it 2-1 after one inning.
 
Neither team scored again until the fourth when the Blazers put five runs on the board. Ellingson singled and scored on a sac fly by Kristen Eustice. Mackenzie Wenner singled and scored on a hit by Lidstone. Haley DeVlaeminck singled and scored when O'Hotto reached on an error. Lidstone scored on an RBI single by Wennerstrand, and O'Hotto came around to score when Ellingson was walked with the bases loaded to make it 7-1 before Northwestern got the third out of the inning.
 
Wennerstrand and Ellingson each finished with two hits and Ellingson had two RBIs for Saint Benedict, which had eight total hits. Ellingson also threw the complete game to earn the win. She gave up a single run on just four hits and struck out two batters.
 
CSB wraps up its spring break trip Saturday, March 7, when it plays Webster at 4 p.m. CDT and Manhattanville at 6 p.m. CDT.