]ST. JOSEPH, Minn. –
Tori Harren homered, and
Elly Novak tossed a complete game as the No. 19 College of Saint Benedict softball team (24-6, 15-5 MIAC) won game one, 4-2, and the Bennies earned a split of a MIAC doubleheader in the home regular season finale on Thursday (May 4) at the CSB Softball Field. After winning the opener, 4-2, CSB took a 5-3 loss in game two.
CSB clinched at least a share of second place in the MIAC with a 15-5 record and two MIAC games to play at Saint Mary's (20-16, 12-8 MIAC) on Saturday, May 6, in Winona, Minn. St. Olaf is 13-7 (19-19 overall) with two games to play with St. Scholastica. The Bennies, which had a six-game winning streak end in the game two loss, also play a pair of nonconference games at Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Sunday.
Game 1 – Saint Benedict 4 St. Catherine 2
In the opener, junior infielder
Tori Harren hit the go-ahead home run in the fourth inning and senior \
Elly Novak won her 12
th game in another sterling effort of a 4-2 victory.
Novak, who improved to 12-4 on the season, tossed a complete game her 10
th of the season. She allowed six hits and two runs, both unearned, and had seven strikeouts. Novak, who earned her 48
th career win, now has program-best 448 career strikeouts, including 110 this season. She also lowered her earned run average to 1.96 and opponent batting average to. 216 on the season. With 48 wins, Novak is one away from second all-time at CSB, which is held by Ani Jordan (49-18, 2001-04).
Harren's home run her sixth of the season and 15
th of her career as she ranks tied for fourth all-time (Sara Wennerstrand, 15, 2015-18). CSB also had a hit and RBI from
Cat Smetana and a hit and RBI from
Megan Rasmussen.
Kallie Finkbeiner had a hit and run scored as did
Maddie Brey.
Game 2 – St. Catherine 5 Saint Benedict 3
Despite two home runs from
Jordyn Swoboda, the Bennies dropped a 5-3 decision to the Wildcats in game two of the doubleheader.
After Swoboda's first home run in the first inning gave CSB a 2-0 lead, the Wildcats rallied for a run in the third frame and four in the third inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Swoboda homered in the sixth inning for the 24
th of her career, which is second all-time at CSB, as the Bennies drew within, 5-3. In the seventh inning, CSB loaded the bases but a fly ball to right field ended the threat.
First-year
Ellie Peterson fell to 12-2 with her 10
th complete game. Peterson allowed five runs on seven hits and have five strikeouts.
On offense, Swoboda had two hits and three RBI while
Megan Rasmussen and
Cat Smetana each had a pair of hits.
By the Numbers
Through 30 games, CSB has a team batting average of .331 with 23 home runs and 155 RBI while slugging at .493 and owning a .399 on-base percentage. The Bennies, which had 41 stolen bases, have 273 hits and 50 doubles as well as seven triples. All-American
Gabby Spencer is hitting .455 with a .693 slugging and .583 OBP with 22 RBI and 40 hits. First-year shortstop Kattie Finkbeiner is hitting .422 with a .479 OBP.
Tori Harren is batting .360 with six home runs and 23 RBI and a .640 slugging mark while
Jordyn Swoboda had a .359 average with team-bests in home runs with eight and RBI with 29. She now has 96 career RBI for fifth in program history and just six away from fourth (Mary Welle, 1997-00). In the circle, both starters –
Elly Novak and
Ellie Peterson had 12 wins and have combined for 187 strikeouts while walking just 39.
In 2023, CSB has a 30-to-4 edge in scoring in the first inning and 38-to-3 in the second frame for a 68-to-8 advantage overall in the first two innings. The Bennies, which had a 5-1 run in one-run games, are 13-0 when leading after six innings. Spencer had 11 multiple hit games while Harren has nine. Swoboda has eight multiple RBI games. In games won by CSB, the Bennies have a .346 average, .512 slugging and .415 OBP while recording a 1.03 earned run average and registering 166 strikeouts against 33 walks.
