ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Sophomores
Olivia Tautges homered and
Ellie Peterson won her 12
th straight decision in a 4-0 game one victory as the College of Saint Benedict softball team (22-14, 15-3 MIAC) earned a split of a MIAC doubleheader with the College of St. Scholastica (8-26, 5-15 MIAC) on Saturday, April 27.
With a split today, CSB improved to 22-14 overall and 15-3 for first place in the MIAC. With four games to play, CSB has a road MIAC doubleheader with Gustavus Adolphus at 3:30/5:30 p.m., on Tuesday, April 30. The games were originally scheduled for Sunday, April 28 but due to the heavy forecast of rain tomorrow, shifted to Tuesday. Then, CSB closes the regular season by hosting Bethel at 1/3 p.m., on Saturday, May 4. Gustavus (19-17) is tied fourth at 13-5 in the MIAC and Bethel (25-7) is second at 14-4.
Game 1 – Saint Benedict 4, St. Scholastica 0
Ellie Peterson recorded her 12
th straight win and ninth complete game with a one-hit shutout to lead CSB to a seventh straight win in a 4-0 decision over CSS in game one.
Peterson allowed just one hit across seven innings and had seven strikeouts in the victory. Since March 30, Peterson has a 12-0 record with nine complete games, two shutouts, a 1.51 earned run average and 56 strikeouts in 79 innings.
Leading the offense for CSB was
Olivia Tautges, who hit a three-run home run in the third inning to give the Bennies a 4-0 lead. Tautges has a league-leading 13 home runs and with a total of four RBI in the doubleheader has 42 on the season.
CSB, which had 11 hits in the game, had two hits and a run scored from both sophomores
Cat Smetana and
Bryn Ruhberg. Junior
Megan Erickson had two hits and an RBI while sophomore
Sammy Muetzel also had two hits. Smetana, Erickson and Muetzel had doubles and Smetana also had a triple.
Tuscany Ballot had a stolen base.
Game 2 – St. Scholastica 2, Saint Benedict 1
Despite a standout performance from sophomore
Olivia Wallace in the circle, CSB dropped a closely-contested 2-1 decision to St. Scholastica.
Kari Breuer of CSS was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded as the Saints ended the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with a 2-1 win.
In the circle, Wallace (4-8) was involved in a pitcher's duel with CSS's Haley Rosenthal (4-10). Wallace allowed just five hits and two runs and recorded a career-best nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Rosenthal allowed seven hits and a run with two strikeouts.
Sophomore
Bryn Ruhberg scored CSB's only run in the third inning as CSB took a 1-0 lead. CSS tied the game in the bottom of the third frame and then pushed across the winning run in the seventh inning.
The Bennies offense was led by
Sammy Muetzel, who had two hits. Ruhberg had a hit (double) and run scored while
Olivia Tautges had a sacrifice fly to drive in the run for CSB.
Tori Benson,
Maddy Kubik,
Bryn Carlstrom and
Cat Smetana had hits for CSB.