ST. PAUL, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict's 2017 season came to an end Saturday afternoon on the second day of the MIAC Tournament.
After a season that included a 10-game winning streak, jumping into the NFCA Top 25 Poll and making the league tournament for the first time since 2014, CSB fell 10-2 to Hamline in six innings in an elimination game in St. Paul, Minn. Saint Benedict ends the year with a 27-13 overall record after finishing in a tie for third in the MIAC.
Hamline – which went on to upset the top-seeded Tommies and earn a spot in the conference title game in its second game of the day – took an early lead Saturday afternoon thanks to an RBI single in the bottom of the second. The Pipers (22-14) added three more runs in the third thanks to three hits and two walks to make it 4-0 before Saint Benedict had its first hit of the game.
Kate Deming singled to left in the fourth for CSB's first hit, but was left stranded. The Pipers broke the game open in the fourth thanks to three home runs – two solo homers and a two-run shots – to make it 8-0.
Sara Wennerstrand tripled and scored on an RBI double by
Olivia Olson in the top of the fifth, and CSB didn't give up any runs to keep the game going.
Kendra Swanson walked to start the sixth and moved over on a single by Deming, and she scored on an RBI single by
Emilie Antony to make it 8-2, but the Pipers loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and scored on a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single to end the game early.
Deming and Wennerestrand both had two hits for Saint Benedict, which finished the game with seven hits to Hamline's 12.
Cassie Meyer threw the first 2.2 innings and took the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits.
Jocelyn Metz ave up two runs on two hits in one inning of work, and
Alex Smith gave up four runs on two hits with one strikeout in 1.2 innings.
Kiela DeVlaeminck faced two batters in the sixth and gave up one hit.
Saint Benedict doesn't have any seniors on its 2017 roster, and looks to pick up where it left off next season with a roster full of veterans including Wennerstrand, Meyer and Deming.
