ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Sammy Muetzel drew a walk-off hit by pitch and Ellie Peterson won her eighth decision as the College of Saint Benedict softball team (15-13, 10-2 MIAC) rallied for a 6-5 come-from-behind win in game one and a split of a MIAC doubleheader with Saint Mary's (22-8, 10-4 MIAC) on Saturday (April 20) at the CSB Softball Field.

Saint Benedict lost game two, 6-4, but retained the lead at the top of the MIAC at 10-2. The Bennies lead Gustavus (11-3) by a game with Saint Mary's (10-4) and Bethel (10-4) two games back. CSB, which has won 13-of-15 games, stands 15-13 overall with a nonconference road doubleheader scheduled for Sunday against Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 1/3 p.m.

In the doubleheader against Saint Mary's, CSB had 10 runs on 15 hits with a .421 slugging mark. Junior Maddy Kubik had three hits in six at bats with a triple and RBI. Bryn Carlstrom also had three hits in seven-at bats with three RBI. In the circle, the Bennies were led by sophomore Ellie Peterson, who won her eighth game in 12 decisions with a fifth complete game.

Game 1 – Saint Benedict 6 Saint Mary's 5
Ellie Peterson won her eighth game and CSB rallied for a come-from-behind, 6-5 win over Saint Mary's.

Trailing 5-4 in the seventh inning, the Bennies scored twice, including a walk-off hit by pitch from sophomore Sammy Muetzel which plated pinch runner Allison Ritter with the game-winning run. CSB had led early with a two-spot in the first inning before Saint Mary's scored four times in the third inning, benefitted by three errors by CSB, for a 4-2 lead. Both teams added a run as the Cardinals took a 5-3 lead to the bottom of the fifth inning. Then, Megan Erickson hit her fourth home run of the season to draw CSB within, 5-4. In the seventh inning, Cat Smetana scored an unearned run when Erickson reached on an error by SMU. Then with the bases loaded, Muetzel was hit by a pitch as CSB picked up their 10^th league victory.

Peterson recorded her fifth complete game, allowing just three earned runs and five hits as she moved to 8-4 on the season. She had six strikeouts and walked three hitters.

On offense, sophomore Bryn Ruhberg had two hits and a run scored while senior Bryn Carlstrom supplied two hits and three RBI to lead the offense.

Game 2 – Saint Mary's 6 Saint Benedict 4
Saint Mary's opened up a 4-0 lead and held off a late rally from Saint Benedict to earn a 6-4 win and a split of the doubleheader.

Sophomore Olivia Wallace started and took the loss (2-7) for the Bennies. She allowed nine hits and six runs (five earned) in 6 2/3 innings. Wallace had five strikeouts but walked seven.

The CSB offense was led by Maddy Kubik with three hits, including a triple, while scoring a run and supplying an RBI. The Bennies had seven hits, including a home run by senior Tori Benson, who had her fifth homer of the season and 20^th of her career in the sixth inning. Benson ranks third all-time in home runs in program history.

Trailing 6-2 in the seventh inning, CSB rallied with a pair of runs as Kubik tripled and scored on Olivia Van Hout's RBI single to right field. Van Hout stole second base and scored on Olivia Tautges's RBI single. It was the 29^th RBI for Tautges.