INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team's defense played a key role in a highly successful season in 2023. As a result, the NCAA Division III has named CSB as softball statistical champion for "Fielding Percentage."

This week, Saint Ben's, directed by head coach Rachael Click, was recognized by the NCAA Division III as the top fielding unit with a mark of .987 (12 errors). A total of 401 teams were ranked including East Texas Baptist (39-7), which finished second at .985 (19 errors) with Southern Maine (20-21) sitting third at .980 (25 errors).

In a season when the Bennies finished 26-7 with a 16-6 mark in the MIAC for second place, defense certainly played a pivotal role.  CSB had 891 chances and committed just 12 errors or 14 fewer than the next closest team in the MIAC (Bethel, 26). CSB had 663 putouts and 216 assists while turning seven double plays.

Individually, 15 players on the roster had 1.000 fielding marks, including starters Jordyn Swoboda, Megan Erickson, Elly Novak, Ellie Peterson, Kallie Finkbeiner, and Cat Smetana. Catcher Bryn Carlstrom had a .994 percentage with a team-high 139 putouts on a team-high 167 chances and 27 assists. In her first year at shortstop, Finkbeiner had 63 chances with 25 putouts and 38 assists in her first year. At second base, Tori Harren had 115 chances, 69 putouts, and 43 assists while fielding .974. She also turned a team-high five double players.

CSB was nationally ranked for most of the season, reaching as high as No. 13 (April 11), as they advanced to the MIAC Tournament Championship for the first time since 2017. The Bennies also have won 26 or more win in a season for the sixth straight year and 20 wins or more for the past 10 full seasons.