ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team wrapped up its historic postseason run Sunday afternoon with a 6-5 loss to Wartburg in the championship game of the Saint Joseph Minnesota Regional.
The Bennies end the season 30-10 overall – just the third time in program history the team has won 30 or more games. Saint Benedict also reached the region championship game for the third time in program history, and earned the right to host a regional for the first time after posting a 28-8 record through the MIAC Tournament and an impressive strength of schedule. Prior to this weekend, CSB hadn't hosted an NCAA postseason event since the basketball team hosted two games of the NCAA Tournament in March 2009.
Some momentum carried over from the team's two shortened 8-0 wins Saturday as CSB jumped to a 3-0 lead after the top of the first.
Gabby Spencer drew a leadoff walk to start the game, and
Bryn Carlstrom reached on a Wartburg error. They both advanced on a sacrifice bunt from
Addy Bowne, and they both came around to score on a two-run double from
Katie Carlson that hit the fence in right-center field. Carlson came around to score on an RBI single from
Megan Rasmussen to give the Bennies an early lead.
The Knights (30-12) got two runs back in the bottom of the inning thanks to a trio of singles and a Bennie fielding error to make it 3-2. CSB added an insurance run in the third on an RBI double to center from
Jordyn Swoboda, and made it 5-2 in the top of the sixth when Spencer singled, advanced on a passed ball and eventually came around to score on an RBI single from
Lexi Hanson.
It turns out that three-run lead wasn't safe, however. A pair of singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases to start the bottom of the inning, and one run came in for Wartburg on a bases-loaded walk. Two runs scored on an RBI single and a throwing error to tie the game at 5-5 before
Tiffany Thompson came in to pitch and got a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.
Rasmussen singled in the seventh, but a double play ended the inning for the Bennies. Wartburg earned a spot in the Super Regionals in the bottom of the inning thanks to a pair of CSB errors – including a throwing error that allowed the Knights' runner to score from second.
Spencer, Rasmussen and Swoboda all had two hits for the Bennies, who had nine total hits. Rasmussen finished the weekend with a tournament-best .583 batting average thanks to seven hits. She had three RBIs and scored twice.
Elly Novak threw the first 5.1 innings and gave up five runs – three earned – on eight hits. She struck out two batters. Thompson took the loss after giving up a single unearned run in the seventh.
Rasmussen, Carlson and Swoboda were all named to the Saint Joseph Minnesota Regional All-Touranment Team at the conclusion of the weekend. Swoboda and Carlson both had a tournament-best five RBIs, and Swoboda was one of three players with a home run.
