ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team picked up its first MIAC sweep of the year Saturday afternoon when it beat Augsburg College 8-2 and 6-0 on the CSB campus in St. Joseph, Minn.
CSB is now 18-15 overall and 7-8 and in seventh in the league with three conference doubleheaders left to play this season.
The Blazers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the first game when Lidstone singled, stole second and scored on an Auggie error and
Megan Toninato reached on an error and scored on a sac fly by
Sara Wennerstrand. Augsburg tied the game in the third thanks to three hits and a CSB error, but the Blazers took the lead for good in the fifth when
Nicole Nelson and scored when
Kim Lidstone hit into an RBI fielder's choice.
CSB added some insurance runs in the sixth when it scored five runs on five hits and one Auggie error.
Melissa Seldon started the inning with a solo homer,
Taylor Ellingson singled and advanced on a fielder's choice by
Becky Gigstad and Nelson was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Bailey O'Hotto hit into a fielder's choice and Ellingson was out at home, but Lidstone cleared the bases with a three-run double.
Megan Toninato sent in one last run on an RBI single.
Lidstone finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs to lead CSB, which had seven hits. Nelson scored two runs. Ellingson started the game on the mound and gave up two runs on six hits, and
Cassie Meyer earned the win after throwing 3.2 scoreless innings to end the game. She gave up four hits and struck out four batters.
CSB took charge early again in the second game with two runs in the first inning and four more in the third. Toninato singled, stole second and advanced on an error, and she scored on a bunt by Wennerstrand. Seldon singled and
Mackenzie Wenner walked, and Seldon scored on an RBI single by Gigstad.
Wennerstrand started the third inning when she reached on an error, and advanced on a songle by Seldon. Wenner reached on a fielder's choice and everyone advanced due to another Auggie error, and Gigstad sent in one run with an RBI single.
Emma Steck sent in another run with a single, and Nelson hit a two-run double to put CSB up 6-0. CSB threatened to score again in the sixth, but left two runners stranded.
O'Hotto finished the second game 3-for-3 to lead CSB, Seldon went 2-for-3 and Gigstad was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. The Blazers had 11 hits. Seldon threw all seven innings and gave up no runs on three hits with six strikeouts.
CSB returns to action Sunday, April 19. First, it heads to Macalester to finish the halted game from April 12. The game, which is tied 4-4 in the top of the eighth, will finish at 11:30 a.m. in St. Paul. After that, CSB heads to St. Kate's for a 2 p.m. doubleheader with the Wildcats.
