ST. PETER, Minn. – Tori Harren homered, Gabby Spencer had three hits and Ellie Peterson tossed a four-hit complete game as the No. 14 College of Saint Benedict (14-2, 5-1 MIAC) recorded a 7-2 decision in game two and earned a split of a doubleheader against Gustavus Adolphus (8-12, 1-3 MIAC) on Tuesday (April 11).

With the game two victory, CSB has now won 12-of-13 games, including 5-of-6 in the MIAC. The Bennies, which own a 14-2 overall record, are 5-1 in the MIAC, a half-game out of second place (St. Catherine, 6-1). Saint Ben's will host league leader Bethel, which is 15-3 overall and ranked No. 11 in DIII, on Saturday, April 15 at 1/3 p.m., at the CSB Softball Field.

In the opener, Gustavus took an early lead before recording a 6-3 win and ended an 11-game winning streak by the Bennies. Then in game two, CSB bounced back by opening a 7-0 lead and picked up a 7-2 win as Peterson won her seventh straight decision with four-hit complete game.

In the doubleheader, Gabby Spencer had four hits in seven at bats with two RBI while Jordyn Swoboda and Tori Harren both had three hits in seven at bats. Harren led CSB with four RBI. Overall, CSB had 20 hits and 10 runs with a .443 slugging and .388 OBP. They also recorded six of eight stolen bases.

By the Numbers – In MIAC play
With her performance today, Spencer, who was named both the CSB and MIAC Player of the Week, has hit .737 in conference play with 14 hits in 19 at bats while driving in 11 runs and totaling a 1.211 slugging mark with a .783 OBP. Also in MIAC play, first-year shortstop Kallie Finkbeiner is hitting .462 with six hits in 13 at bats while Jordyn Swoboda is batting .381 with eight hits. In addition, Harren is hitting .368 with two home runs and six RBI with a .789 slugging mark. As a team, CSB, which has 19 stolen bases in six games, is batting .331 and while holding opponents to a .197 mark. In the circle, Ellie Peterson is 3-0 and Elly Novak, 2-1, with a combined 2.28 earned run average and 41 strikeouts against 11 walks in 40 innings.

Game 1 – Gustavus Adolphus 6 Saint Benedict 3
Gustavus opened up a 5-0 lead after four innings and held off Saint Benedict, 6-3, to win the opener.

CSB tried to rally back as they scored a run in the fifth inning and, with a two-run home run from Harren, drew within 6-3 in the sixth inning. CSB then loaded the bases in the seventh inning but the rally was halted.

Senior Elly Novak (7-2) took the loss for CSB as she allowed six runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. As a result, her six-game winning streak came to an end. Olivia Wallace finished for CSB, allowing a hit and walking two with a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.

Piper Otto (3-4) earned the win for GAC, going seven innings and allowing nine hits and three runs with a strikeout and two walks.

Swoboda led the offense with two hits in four at bats and scored a run. Cat Smetana added two hits while Megan Rasmussen had a hit and RBI. Harren had a home run with two RBI.

Game 2 – Saint Benedict 7 Gustavus 2
With a four-hit complete game by Ellie Peterson, three hits and two RBI from Spencer and a home run and two RBI by Harren, the Bennies picked up a 7-2 win in game two.

Dating back to her five-inning no-hitter against Augsburg on Saturday (April 8), Peterson had a run of eight straight no-hit innings before Gustavus had a lead-off single in the fourth inning. For the game, Peterson recorded her sixth complete game by working seven innings and allowing four hits with two runs. She recorded eight strikeouts, which is her second highest-total this year, with just three walks.

After this performance, she is now 7-0 with a 1.75 earned run average and 42 strikeouts in 44 innings this season.
Spencer led CSB with three hits in four at-bats and supplied a pair of RBI. Harren had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI while Bryn Carlstrom had two hits and a season-best three RBI. Olivia Van Hout also had a pair of hits.

CSB jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning after Harren's single scored Spencer. Then, Harren and Swoboda came home on a two-run single by Carlstrom. In the third inning, Harren clubbed her third home run of the season for a 4-0 lead. Then, Carlstrom's run-scoring single plated Maddy Kubik, and Van Hout and Bryn Ruhberg scored on a two-run single by Spencer as CSB took a 7-0 lead.

Gustavus scored two runs in the fourth inning but after that were shut down by Peterson, who allowed just two more hits and retired the final six batters to earn the victory.