Live Stats/Video | UWEC Game Notes

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team continues its 2021 season with a pair of nonconference doubleheaders against WIAC opponents this weekend. UW-Eau Claire comes to town Saturday afternoon, and UW-Stout makes the trip to St. Joe Sunday.
 
Both games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at the team's turf field at the OAC. Mother Nature dumped several inches of icy snow on the region Monday, but spring weather returned late in the week to clear the fields in time for the games.
 
Per CSB and MDH guidelines, 150 fans are allowed in the grandstands masked and socially distant. Fans are welcome to bring their own chairs and sit outside the outfield fence to watch the games. Restrooms at the facility are open, but no concessions are available. Live stats and video of both doubleheaders will be available here.
 
ABOUT THE BLUGOLDS
Eau Claire is 9-3 overall and heads into Saturday on a three-game winning streak after sweeping Northwestern Thursday in St. Paul. Two of UWEC's three losses have come to MIAC competitors in St. Kate's and Bethel. Six Blugolds are batting .400 or better, including Sadie Erickson who is batting .600 with 24 hits and 14 RBIs. On the mound Madi Zerr has three wins, 18Ks and a 1.57 ERA to pace Eau Claire.
 
ABOUT THE BLUE DEVILS       
Stout opened 2021 with a sweep of UW-Superior before dropping a doubleheader to Bethel the next day. After scoring 15 runs in the first weekend, the Blue Devils were shut out against the Royals. Heading into the team's doubleheader at St. Thomas on March 20, Korin Hall leads the team with seven hits in nine at-bats, and Mackensie Wolterstorff led four Stout pitchers with an ERA of 1.24 in 5.2 innings pitched.
 
LAST MEETING
CSB and the Blugolds last met in the Bennies' 2019 regular-season finale in Eau Claire. UWEC won the first game 3-0, but CSB bounced back to win the second game 10-1 in six innings. The win marked just the third against the Blugolds since the late 1980s.
 
THE STORYLINE
Solid pitching and big bats led Saint Benedict to a 3-1 record on the team's opening weekend against La Crosse and Gustavus. The Bennies look to stay consistent at the plate and in the circle to keep its success coming in these early season nonconference games to bolster its resume for a potential NCAA bid later this spring.
 
WHO TO WATCH:
After striking out a career-best 15 batters against La Crosse, Elly Novak added nine more strikeouts to her name against Gustavus. Senior Ally Hjort threw a five-inning one hitter with five strikeouts against the Gusties. Junior transfer Katie Carlson had a big first weekend with the team, finishing 7-for-12 with three doubles and two homers. Gabby Spencer leads the team with six RBIs after a bases-clearing triple against Gustavus.