ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team split a nonconference doubleheader with St. Scholastica Sunday afternoon. The Saints won the first game 6-4, but big bats led CSB to a 5-4 win in the second game at the CSB softball fields in St. Joseph.
St. Scholastica (8-10) scored on an RBI single and an obstruction call in the top of the first to go up 2-0, but
Sara Wennerstrand hit an RBI single to score
Kate Deming and make it 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. The Saints added another run on a solo homer in the second and held a 3-1 lead until the fourth when
Emilie Antony reached on an error and scored on a two-run homer by
Nicole Nelson. The home run marked the second of her college career and her first since 2013.
The Saints broke the 3-3 tie in the fifth with an RBI single, but
Megan Toninato hit an RBI double to tie the game and Antony sent in the winning run with an RBI single.
Deming finished with two hits to lead CSB, which had seven total hits. Nelson had two RBIs. Kiela DeVlaemicnk threw all seven innings and earned the win after giving up four runs on six hits with one strikeout.
The first game of the day was scoreless until the fourth inning when the Saints scored four runs on six hits – including a two-run double – to go up 4-0. CSB tied the game right away in the bottom of the inning thanks to three hits and a pair of walks.
Courtney Wissbaum had an RBI fielder's choice, Deming hit a two-run double and Toninato tied the game with an RBI single.
The Saints regained the lead in the top of the fifth after scoring a pair of runs on a sac fly and an RBI groundout, and CSB was unable to answer those two runs.
Toninato went 3-for-4 to pace CSB, which had eight hits. Deming had two RBIs.
Cassie Meyer took the loss after throwing the first four innings. She gave up six runs on nine hits. DeVlaeminck threw the final three innings and gave up three hits and struck out two batters.
CSB returns to action Wednesday, April 6, when it travels to Winona, Minn., to take on Saint Mary's in its MIAC opener. The Blazers are back at home Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10 when they host Carleton and Gustavus.