ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team saw its five-game win streak snapped Sunday afternoon in the second game of a split doubleheader with Buena Vista University.
 
The Bennies used two big innings to pull away for an 8-2 win in the first game, but BVU turned the tables and used a four-run third inning to come away with a 7-5 win in the second game and secure the split. Saint Benedict is now 12-2 overall and the Beavers are 16-6.
 
In the first game, the Beavers scored in the top of the first on an RBI double, but the Bennies scored all they would need and then some in the bottom of the inning thanks to an RBI groundout from Sheridan Glashan, a sac fly from Addy Bowne and an RBI single by Katie Carlson.
 
The score stayed 3-1 until the fifth when Bryn Carlstrom sent in a run with an RBI single, and the Bennies broke open the game with four more runs in the sixth inning. Glashan, Bowne and Carlson all singled to start the inning, and Tori Harren sent in two runs with a single, and one batter later Bree Griffin sent in two more runs with an RBI single. The Beavers added one more run in the seventh on an RBI double.
 
Carlson had two of the team's eight hits and Harren and Griffin both had two RBIs to pace CSB. Elly Novak picked up her seventh win of the season after giving up two runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
 
In Game 2, the Bennies had an answer for BVU in each of the first two innings – but the Beavers took over in the fourth.
 
Buena Vista took a 1-0 lead in the first thanks to a leadoff double and a sac fly to right field, but the Bennies answered in the bottom of the inning when Gabby Spencer hit a solo homer over the left-centerfield fence. BVU scored twice in the second thanks to two hits and two CSB errors, but the Benneies got those runs back on an RBI double from Lexi Hanson and an RBI single from Jordyn Swoboda.
 
The Beavers broke things open in the top of the third, scoring four runs on four hits and two more Bennie errors. CSB left two runners on in the sixth but failed to score, and tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh when Hanson singled, Spencer reached on a fielder's choice and both scored on a two-run single from Megan Erickson, but a fly out ended the game.
 
Hanson had two of the team's six hits and Erickson finished with two RBIs to lead CSB offensively. Bowne threw the first two innings on the mound and gave up three runs – one earned – and four hits. Spencer took the loss on the mound after giving up four runs – just one earned – on six hits with two strikeouts. Tiffany Thompson struck out one batter in the final two innings.
 
CSB has the week off, and is scheduled to return home Saturday, March 26, when it hosts UW-Stout at 1 p.m.