COLUMBUS, Ga. – The College of Saint Benedict (0-2) took two losses as the season opened at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday.

After rain cancelled play on Friday (March 1), the Bennies opened the season with a 5-1 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor (3-3). In game two, CSB fell to No. 1 Trine (2-0), 6-0. The Bennies totaled nine hits on the day with senior Tori Benson, sophomore Sammy Muetzel and senior Bryn Carlstrom each recording a pair of hits.

Saint Benedict will return to the field on Sunday by facing No. 8 Christopher Newport at 12:30 p.m., and No. 12 Belhaven at 2:30 p.m., in the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
 

Game 1 – Mary Hardin-Baylor 5 Saint Benedict 1
Eileigh Whyte threw a six-hitter and Tori Skinner had a three-run home run to lift Mary Hardin-Baylor (3-2) to a 5-1 nonconference win over Saint Benedict as the Bennies opened the season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday.

Whyte picked up the win to move to 2-0 on the season. She allowed six hits and a run in seven innings with three strikeouts. In the circle for CSB, sophomore Olivia Wallace (0-1) took the loss after allowing nine hits and five runs with four strikeouts in six innings. CSB was led offensively by sophomore Sammy Muetzel, who had two hits. Kallie Finkbeiner, Cat Smetana, Tori Benson, and Tuscany Ballot each had a hit for the Bennies. Sophomore infielder Cadence Koste had CSB's RBI.

Skinner led the way for the Cru with a home run and four RBI while Taylor Henken had two hits and two runs scored. Mary Hardin-Baylor bounced back with a win after falling in their first game of the tourney to No. 13 Case Western Reserve, 5-0.

In the top of the first inning, the Cru took the lead on a three-run home run by Tori Skinner. After a walk to CSB's Megan Erickson, who was replaced by pinch runner Olivia Van Hout, CSB scored on Koste's RBI ground out in the second frame. In the third, Mary Hardin-Baylor added to its lead after a double by Bailey Frenzel scored Henken, who reached on her second hit of the day. The lead grew to 5-1 after Skinner's sacrifice fly brought home Kaitlin Powers.

Game 2 – No. 1 Trine 6 Saint Benedict 0
Macy Rocha had three hits and two RBI while Debbie Hill tossed a complete game shutout as No. 1 Trine (2-0) recorded a 6-0 nonconference win over Saint Benedict (0-2) on Saturday evening.

CSB sophomore Ellie Peterson (0-1) worked five innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs with four strikeouts and five walks. Junior Addy Bowne finished with one inning in the circle, which included a strikeout and a hit. Hill (1-0) picked up the win after throwing a complete game three-hitter and recording two strikeouts.

Trine scored two runs in both the first and third innings and added single tallies in the fourth and fifth frames as the Thunder earned their second straight win this season, both by shutouts (Piedmont, 17-0).

Rocha had three hits and two RBI with a run scored to lead Trine. The Bennies had hits from Bryn Ruhberg, Tori Benson, and Bryn Carlstrom.