ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After scoring 13 runs in one game Sunday against St. Kate's, the College of Saint Benedict softball team's offense sputtered a bit Tuesday against Macalester.
CSB had five hits in a 4-3 loss to the Scots in Game 1, then put together seven hits and took advantage of two fifth-inning Macalester errors to hold on for a 4-1 win in the second game. Saint Benedict is now 14-5 overall and 2-1 in the MIAC heading into a busy week of conference play.
In the first game of the day,
Mo Burns picked up where she left off Sunday with a double in her first at-bat, but she was later stranded at third. With two outs in the second, CSB loaded the bases with three straight singles, and
Kendra Swanson,
Olivia McCabe and
Lizzy Walker all came around to score on a pair of errors by the Scots.
Macalester (10-12, 2-2) made it a one-run game in the third when two runs scored on a pair of CSB errors. The Scots tied the game with an RBI triple in the fifth, and took the lead for good with back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh. CSB – which didn't have a base runner in the fourth through sixth innings – got two runners on when Swanson walked and Walker reached on an error, but a strikeout and a groundout to the pitcher ended the game.
Five different players singled for CSB, which had five total hits.
Alex Smith threw the first 6.2 innings and took the loss after giving up four runs – two earned – on seven hits with six strikeouts.
Lauren York threw to the final batter and recorded a strikeout.
Burns singled and came around to score on an RBI single from Swanson to start the second game, but Macalester tied the game in the third thanks to a single, a sac bunt and a wild pitch. That runner was one of just three the Scots would get all game, however, and York gave up just two hits and walked one in seven innings.
CSB left four runners stranded in the second and third innings, but used two hits and two Macalester errors to score a trio of runs in the fifth to take control of the game.
Claire Boatman hit into an RBI fielder's choice and Swanson hit a two-run single to highlight the inning. CSB had runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn't get any more runs across.
York picked up the third win of her career after giving up two hits and one run in seven innings. She struck out four batters. Burns,
Sheridan Glashan and Swanson had two hits each for CSB, and Swanson had a trio of RBIs.
CSB continues its busy week Wednesday, April 3, when it travels to St. Paul to take on St. Thomas, which is ranked third in the latest NFCA poll. CSB is back at home Saturday, April 6, when it hosts Gustavus at 1 p.m.
