ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – First-year standout Elly Peterson threw a complete game two-hitter and the No. 25 College of Saint Benedict (26-7) had a combined eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings as the second-seeded Bennies recorded an 8-1 win over third seeded St. Olaf in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, the No. 25 nationally-ranked Bennies advanced to the MIAC Tournament title game against top-seeded Bethel, which defeated Gustavus Adolphus, 1-0 in the other semifinal. Saint Ben's has advanced to its first tournament championship since 2018 and third overall in program history (2004, 2018). It will be a matchup of nationally-ranked teams as Bethel comes into this tournament No. 11 in DIII. The winner of the tournament title game receives the MIAC's automatic berth in the NCAA DIII national tournament.

Peterson (13-3) picked up her 13^th win as she allowed just two hits and a run with three strikeouts in throwing 94 pitches. She dropped her earned run average to 2.12 with her 11th complete game of the season while pushing her strikeout total to 80.

CSB had a 10-hit attack led by Cat Smetana with two hits and an RBI. Her base hit in the fourth inning broke a scoreless pitching duel. Then the Bennies added four more to take a 5-0 lead after four innings. With three more runs in the fifth inning, CSB had all the support Peterson needed in helping the Bennies advance.

All-American outfielder Gabby Spencer added two hits in four at bats as she is now hitting .450 on the year. Jordyn Swoboda had an RBI, hit and two runs scored while Tori Harren provided two RBI as did Hannah Sundem, who had a triple. Swoboda now has a team-high 31 RBI this year and her career total moves to 98 for fifth all-time. Smetana's two hits pushed her season average to .389. 

Scoring summary
After both pitchers tossed three scoreless innings, CSB, which leads the MIAC in hitting (.330) had a number of clutch hits. Kallie FInkbeiner led off with a single and then pinch runner Olivia Van Hout stole second, scoring on Cat Smetana's RBI double. With an RBI single from Jordyn Swoboda and another by Bryn Carlstrom, CSB extended its lead to 3-0.

With two outs, senior outfielder Hannah Sundem's two-run triple provided the Bennies with a 5-0 lead. St. Olaf broke through for a run in the fifth inning. In the bottom of the frame, Tori Harren's two-run double gave CSB a 7-1 lead. Lexi Hanson followed with a run-scoring single as the Bennies led, 8-1.