ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Fifth inning offensive magic, along with stellar pitching, lifted the College of Saint Benedict softball team (19-13, 12-2 MIAC) to a MIAC doubleheader sweep over Hamline (14-16, 4-12 MIAC) by scores of 10-2 and 2-1 on Tuesday (April 23) at the CSB Softball Field.

In both games, CSB trailed entering the fifth inning. Then, the Bennie offense found its rhythm in that frame by scoring nine runs in a 10-2 run rule shortened win in game one and two runs in a 2-1 win in the second game.

With the victory, CSB moves to 19-13 overall and extends its winning streak to four games. CSB pushed its league-leading MIAC record to 12-2 with its sixth conference win in seven games. At home, CSB is now 8-4. The Bennies, which have won 17-of-19 games, will play another doubleheader again on Wednesday (April 24) as they face a road MIAC test at Carleton College on Wednesday at 3:30/5:30 p.m.

By the Numbers –
In the circle, CSB had a solid day with Olivia Wallace and Ellie Peterson both throwing complete games and combined for a 1.75 earned run average with five total strikeouts in 12 innings. At the plate, Addy Bowne had three hits in five at bats with two runs and an RBI while Maddy Kubik, Tori Benson, Sammy Muetzel and Bryn Ruhberg also provided two hits with Ruhberg leading CSB with four RBI.

Game 1 – Saint Benedict 10 Hamline 2 (five innings)
In the opener, CSB had nine runs on 10 hits in the fifth inning to rally from a 2-1 deficit and earn a 10-2 run-rule shortened win.

Bowne led the offense with three hits, two runs and an RBI in three at bats. Sammy Muetzel had two hits and a run scored. Both Muetzel and Bowne had two hits in that fifth inning. CSB also had a two RBI from Maddy Kubik and Bryn Ruhberg. Sophomore Olivia Tautges hit her league-leading 11^th home run and scored two runs.

Sophomore pitcher Ellie Peterson tossed her team-leading seventh complete game and moved to 10-4 on the season. She allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings with three strikeouts.

Tautges hit a home run over the right field fence for a 1-0 lead in the first frame. Then, Hamline had a two-run single from Shannon Johnson for a  2-1 lead. Montana Miller of Hamline (3-3) held CSB in check until the bottom of the fifth frame. Then, the Bennies had their game-ending offensive run. Bowne and Muetzel started the rally with hits with both scoring on Kubik's two-run single. Ruhberg followed with a two-run single and Megan Erickson's RBI single gave CSB a 6-2 lead. Then, RBI hits by Bryn Carlstrom and an RBI triple by Bowne gave the Bennies a 9-2 advantage, extending it to 10-2 after a Hamline error.

Game 2 – Saint Benedict 2 Hamline 1
Bryn Ruhberg's two-run single and a complete game from Olivia Wallace lifted CSB to a 2-1 win over Hamline and a sweep of the league doubleheader.

Wallace (3-7), who pitched her sixth complete game and lowered her earned run average to 3.94, recorded her third win of the season as she held Hamline to a run on eight hits while recording two strikeouts.

The Bennies' offense included hits from Kubik, Benson, Tautges and Ruhberg.

With one out in the fifth inning, Benson doubled to centerfield and Kubik followed with a double which was followed by Ruhberg's clutch two-run single which gave CSB the lead, 2-1 lead.

Then, Wallace worked out of a two-on one out game in the sixth inning and closed the game with a strikeout in the seventh frame to give CSB the 47^th win in 71 games in the all-time series between the schools.