CLERMONT, Fla. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team wrapped up its spring training trip Saturday night with a pair of wins. The Blazers beat Webster 14-10 and ended the trip with an 18-2, five-inning win over Manhattanville in Clermont, Fla.
CSB (9-5) came out on top in a slugfest against Webster. The two teams combined for nearly 30 hits and 24 runs in seven innings of play. The two teams went back and forth each inning, but the Blazers used big fifth and sixth innings to pull away.
Webster led 10-7 after four complete innings, but
Haley Kiefer walked,
Kim Lidstone reached on an error and
Bailey O'Hotto singled to start the fifth. All three scored on a three-run double by
Sara Wennerstrand, and she came around to score on an RBI single by
Kiela DeVlaeminck to put CSB up 11-10. The Blazers added three insurance runs in the sixth thanks to an RBI double by Kiefer and a two-run single from O'Hotto.
The Blazers scored on an RBI triple from O'Hotto to start the game, but Webster took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Lidstone had an RBI single in the second to make it a one-run game, but Webster scored again in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead. CSB scored five runs in the third to take a 7-4 lead.
Karlee Pfaff had a two-run single, Kiefer had an RBI walk and Wennerstrand had a two-run single for the Blazers. Webster scored three in the fourth to make it 7-6, but CSB used its late runs to stay ahead.
O'Hotto went 4-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the Blazers. Lidstone and Pfaff each had three hits and Wennerstrand went 2-for-4 with five RBIs.
Cassie Meyer threw the first four innings and earned the win on the mound. She gave up nine runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts.
Taylor Ellingson was credited with the save after throwing the final three innings. She gave up a single run and just one hit.
Saint Benedict took advantage of 14 walks and nine hits in its 18-2, five-inning win in the second game. CSB took a 3-1 lead after the first inning thanks to RBI singles from Wennerstrand and
Mackenzie Wenner, and made it 9-1 after scoring six runs in the second inning.
Melissa Seldon had a two-run double and
Becky Gigstad started the inning with a solo homer. The Blazers added nine runs in the fourth inning thanks to a two-run double from O'Hotto and seven walks.
O'Hotto went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Blazers and Seldon also had two RBIs. Ellingson threw all five innings and gave up two runs and just three hits. She struck out eight batters.
The Blazers are off now until Wednesday, March 25, when they are scheduled to start MIAC play as they host St. Thomas at 3:30 p.m. in a doubleheader on the CSB campus in St. Joseph.