ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Just over a week ago, the College of Saint Benedict softball team racked up 15 hits and scored 13 runs to start MIAC play with a big win over St. Kate's. Tuesday evening, the Wildcats flipped the script.
In Game 2 of the doubleheader – which was halted on March 31 due to cold, snowy conditions, CSB fell 8-2 to the Wildcats. Saint Benedict jumped to an early lead, but the Wildcats came up with some big hits late to seal the win. CSB is now 17-9 overall and 5-5 in conference play.
Saint Benedict took advantage of a slow start from Wildcat pitcher Kathryn Proper, and loaded the bases on a walk, an error and a single from
Kendra Swanson.
Grace Gilmore walked to send in a run, and
Emilie Antony was hit by a pitch to send in a second run before St. Kate's ended the inning.
Those were all the runs CSB mustered, however. The Wildcats got one run back in the second on a single and a CSB error, and took a 3-2 lead in the fourth thanks to a pair of doubles and another Saint Benedict error. Antony singled and made it around to third in the bottom of the fourth but was stranded, and the Wildcats made it a two-run lead thanks to an RBI single in the fifth.
Swanson reached on an error and
Ally Hjort walked in the fifth but both were stranded, and Antony singled again in the sixth but was left on first. The Wildcats (16-7, 6-1) iced the win with a four-run seventh, highlighted by an RBI double, a two-run double and an RBI single. Swanson reached on a fielder's choice and made it to second when
Lauren York was walked, but neither runner made it any further before the third out.
Antony finished with two hits to lead CSB, which had five hits to the Wildcats' 12. Gilmore was solid through four innings, but took the loss after giving up three runs – none earned – on five hits. Hjort threw the next 2.1 innings and gave up three runs on five hits and York threw the final two-thirds of an inning.
CSB was scheduled to be on the road this Thursday, April 11, at Concordia, but that game has been pushed back to Monday, April 22, due to the pending winter weather. The team is tentatively scheduled to host Saint Mary's Saturday, April 13, but stay tuned to gobennies.com or follow CSB athletics on Twitter, @csb_athletics, for schedule updates.
