MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – With an explosive offense and shutdown pitching, the College of Saint Benedict softball team (9-11, 4-0 MIAC) extended its winning streak to seven games in rolling to a pair of 9-0 run-rule victories against Augsburg (16-6, 1-3 MIAC) on Saturday (April 6) in road MIAC play.

As a result of the two shutout wins, the Bennies sit 9-11 overall and in a four-way tie for first place in the MIAC with a 4-0 record.

In the two road MIAC wins, the Bennies hit .475 as a team with 18 runs and 28 hits. CSB recorded seven doubles, two home runs and 41 total bases. In the circle, CSB allowed just four total hits and held the Auggies to a .111 batting average as Addy Bowne (4-1) and Ellie Peterson (4-4) earned their fourth wins of the year. CSB had back-to-back shutouts in a doubleheader for the first time since winning 7-0, 9-0 against Concordia on April 28, 2023. In each of the past six games, the Bennies have recorded double-digit hits total (12, 11, 13, 11, 13, 15). And, today, CSB had a combined 28 hits, including a season-best 15 in the game two win.

Aside from her pitching, Bowne led CSB with a .800 batting average, totaling four hits in five at bats. Sophomore Bryn Ruhberg, who moved her season average to a team-best .412, had four hits in six at bats with four runs, two doubles and two RBI. Seniors Tori Benson and Bryn Carlstrom each hit .571 with four hits in seven at bats. Benson had a trio of doubles. In addition, Megan Erickson was 3-of-6 and had a team-high six RBI, including her first career grand slam.

By the numbers – 7-game win streak
During the seven-game winning streak, CSB has hit .396 to just .172 to opponents. Sophomore centerfielder Olivia Tautges has led CSB with a .600 batting average, collecting 15 hits in 25 at bats with three doubles, three home runs, 10 runs, 13 RBI and 27 total bases. She had a .615 on-base percentage and a 1.080 slugging mark. With that torrid streak, Tautges jumped her season batting average to .340, OPS to 1.031 with team-highs in home runs with five and RBI with 18. Sophomore infielder Sammy Muetzel hit .571 with eight hits while senior Bryn Carlstrom batted .520 with 13 hits in 25 at bats with six RBI as she is now hitting.375 on the season. Also, for CSB junior Addy Bowne hit .500 at the plate with seven hits and four RBI. In the circle, she was 3-0 with a 2.40 earned run average in four appearances. Sophomore Ellie Peterson compiled a 4-0 record with a 1.55 earned run average and 19 strikeouts in 29 innings.

Game 1 – Saint Benedict 9 Augsburg 0 (6 innings)
Addy Bowne won her second straight game and Megan Erickson hit a grand slam to lift the College of Saint Benedict softball team to a 9-0 MIAC win over Augsburg, 9-0, in the opener.

Bowne (4-1) allowed just two hits and no runs in five innings with her first shutout of the season. Over the past two starts, she has allowed just two runs and five hits across 10 innings.

Erickson hit her first career grand slam as she had two hits, run scored and a career-best five RBI. Catcher Bryn Ruhberg had two hits and three runs scored while Carlstrom and Bowne both collected two hits as the Bennies had 13 hits overall.

Game Summary - CSB took a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Erickson in the first inning to plate Ruhberg, In the third frame, Ruhberg scored against on a fielder's choice RBI ground out by Olivia Tautges. Muetzel's RBI doubled scored Benson, which started a seven-run sixth inning. Maddy Kubik RBI single brought home Muetzel. With the bases loaded Erickson hit her first career grand slam for an 8-0 lead. Then, Tautges hit her third home run of the season for a 9-0 lead.

Game 2 – Saint Benedict 9 Augsburg 0 (5 innings)
Ellie Peterson won her fourth straight game and Tori Benson keyed the offense with three hits and two RBI in a 9-0 victory over Augsburg in game two as the Bennies earned a sweep.

Peterson (4-0) worked four innings, allowing just one hit while recording three strikeouts in throwing 72 pitches. Sophomore Olivia Wallace finished for CSB with one inning of shutout relief as she had a strikeout and no hits allowed in throwing eight pitches.

Benson led the offense with three hits in three at bats with two RBI. Ruhberg had two hits and two RBI with a run scored while Carlstrom had two hits, run scored and RBI. Bowne also collected two hits in two at bats while Tautges had two hits and two runs scored.

Game Summary – CSB scored a single run in the opening inning, added three in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth inning to build a 9-0 lead on their way to the second straight run-rule win. In the opening inning, Erickson's RBI single to centerfield brought home Ruhberg. In the second inning, Bowne had an RBI single to left field to plate Benson and then Ruhberg's two-run single to centerfield scored Muetzel and Bowne for a 4-0 lead. In the third frame, Tautges scored on a throwing error after a base hit by Carlstrom. Then, CSB took a 6-0 lead as Benson's double to right field brought home Carlstrom. In the fourth inning, Olivia Van Hout scored on an RBI bunt single by Smetana. After that, Carlstrom singled through the left side to bring home Erickson and Benson's RBI single to right center field plated Tautges for the 9-0 lead.