WINONA, Minn. – With a school record 19^th career shutout from senior Elly Novak and solid offensive games from Megan Rasmussen and Lexi Hanson, the No. 19 College of Saint Benedict (25-7, 16-6 MIAC) recorded a 10-0 run rule win in game one and a split on the road at Saint Mary's (21-17, 13-9 MIAC) in the regular season finale. SMU won game two, 5-2.

With her three-hit shutout, Elly Novak won her 13^th game in 17 decisions and had her sixth shutout this season. As a result, she now has 19 career shutouts, which set a new CSB school record. In the 10-0 win, she had six strikeouts while Lexi Hanson had a career-best three RBI.

Saint Ben's, which had clinched second place in the MIAC standings, will receive a bye in the first round of the six-team MIAC Tournament on May 11 and 13. On May 11, the No. 5 seed plays at No. 4 and the No. 6 seed plays at No. 3. CSB will face the higher remaining seed at 1:30 p.m., on Saturday, May 13 at Bethel. At 11 a.m., Bethel hosts the lowest remaining seed with the two winners play at 4 p.m., in the single elimination tournament. MIAC tickets will be $10 for general admission; $2 for students with ID and children five and under will be admitted free.

With the game one victory, CSB has now recorded 25 or more wins in six straight (full) seasons. The Bennies, which recorded their 791^st all-time win, extended their winning streak against SMU to 12 straight games before that streak ended in game two. CSB has won 42-of-76 games in the series with SMU.

G1 – Saint Benedict 10 SMU 0 (6 innings)
Senior Elly Novak tossed a three-hitter and set a school record in shutouts with her 19^th of her career while Lexi Hanson and Megan Rasmussen led the offense in a 10-0 run-rule victory over Saint Mary's in game one.

Novak tossed her sixth shutout of the season and the 19^th of her career, which breaks a tie with her and Angie Erickson (1997-00, 18). Already the school record holder in career strikeouts, she had six more to push her to 454 for her career.   

Hanson had a hit, run scored and had a career-best three RBI.  Rasmussen had two hits and two RBI with a run scored. In addition, Bryn Carlstrom added two hits, two runs scored and a RBI. Gabby Spencer had a hit and two RBI while Tori Harren had a hit, two runs scored and Jordyn Swoboda, a hit, run scored and RBI while reaching base three times.

After three scoreless innings by both teams, the Bennies put together a five-run fourth inning for a 5-0 lead. Hanson had a two-run single which was followed by an RBI double by Carlstrom and a run-scoring single by Rasmussen.

In the sixth inning, Swoboda doubled and later scored on a fielder's choice ground out by Hanson for her third RBI of the game as CSB led, 6-0. Then, Rasmussen's second hit and second RBI brought home Harren, who had reached on a walk for a 7-0 lead. Then, Spencer had a two-run single, also in the sixth frame, for a 9-0 lead. Hannah Sundem scored on an RBI walk by Swoboda in the sixth inning.

Game 2 – Saint Mary's 5 Saint Benedict 2
Saint Mary's jumped to a 5-0 lead and held on to defeat Saint Ben's, 5-2 and earn a split in the doubleheader.

Ellie Peterson (12-2) started for CSB and took the loss after working 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and two runs with three walks in facing 14 batters. Tiffany Thompson also threw for CSB, allowing just two hits and three runs with two strikeouts and two walks across 3 2/3 innings.

The Bennies were led by Gabby Spencer who had a pair of hits and scored a run. Tori Harren had a hit and RBI. Bryn Carlstrom, Megan Rasmussen and Hannah Sundem all had hits for CSB.

SMU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run single from Abbie Stigler. In the fourth inning, the Cardinals added three more runs to lead 5-0. In the sixth inning, Spencer singled and later scored on Harren's RBI. In the seventh, inning, the Bennies had a run when Olivia Van Hout scored on an error by SMU.

By the Numbers 
After playing 32 games this season, CSB had a .330 team batting average, .483 slugging mark and a .398 OBP. They scored 194 runs with 289 hits and had 52 doubles, seven triples and 23 home runs.

Leading CSB was senior All-American Gabby Spencer who had a .448 batting average with a teamphigh 43 hits, 10 doubles, three home runs and 24 RBI. She had a .667 slugging and a .569 OBP with 13 stolen bases. Kallie Finkbeiner hit .394 in her first season with a .450 OBP. Hannah Sundem hit .385 with a .415 OBP and first-year Cat Smetana was at .380 with a .600 slugging mark. Junior Tori Harren hit .362 with six home runs and 24 RBI along with a .628 slugging mark. Jordyn Swoboda led CSB with eight home runs and now has 24 in her career for second all-time at CSB. She hit .354 with a team-best 30 RBI and .677 slugging mark.

In the circle, CSB finished the regular season with a 2.25 earned run average and had 204 strikeouts in 208 innings while limiting opponents to a .208 batting average. Senior Elly Novak had a team-best 13 wins in 17 decisions and a team-best 1.84 earned run average. She had six shutouts, 11 complete games and 116 strikeouts in 102.2 innings. First-year Ellie Peterson had a 12-3 record with a 2.21 earned run average with 10 complete games and three shutouts with 77 strikeouts in 85.1 innings. In total, CSB had 21 complete games.