OSHKOSH, Wis. – Led by the pitching of sophomore Ellie Peterson along with the hitting of juniors Addy Bowne and Maddy Kubik, the College of Saint Benedict softball team (26-18) won twice on Friday (May 17) and advanced to the NCAA DIII Regional Tournament Championship on Saturday, May 18.

The Bennies used big innings in both victories to earn a 5-3 win over Wartburg (23-18) and an 8-3 victory against Illinois Wesleyan (31-12). As a result, the Bennies will play in the regional championship for the second time in three years. CSB will now face No. 12 UW-Oshkosh, which defeated CSB, 4-1, in the opening game of the tournament on Thursday.
 

CSB and UW-Oshkosh will play at 11 a.m., and St. Ben's has to win twice to advance to the NCAA DIII Super Regionals on May 23-24. If the Bennies win the first game against the Titans, the teams play again at 1:30 p.m.

Rachael Click, CSB's 11th-year head coach, was pleased with the team effort in advancing to the regional championship.

"It was an exciting day to be able to prove what this team is capable of against quality teams," said Click of her team which has played one of the top schedules in DIII this season. "Both Wartburg and Illinois Wesleyan have a reputation for success. The bats came alive all the way through the lineup, defense was solid and both Olivia (Wallace) and Ellie (Peterson) were able to shut down some quality hitters. It was a total team win today with many different players contributing," said Click of her team which reached a regional final for the fourth time in program history.

CSB ended a three-game slide against Wartburg, which defeated the Bennies, 7-1, and 6-5 on March 29 and had a 6-5 win in the regional in 2022. CSB scored five runs in the first inning and held off Wartburg. In the second game, CSB moved to 3-1 all-time against Illinois Wesleyan (31-12) after a six-run second inning propelled the Bennies to the win. As a result, CSB, which won a share of the MIAC regular season title for the first time since 1994, is now 8-11 all-time in tournament play.

In the circle, Peterson (15-6) won both games and had a combined 1.97 earned run average with a complete game and nine strikeouts. Bowne hit .750 with three hits in four at bats and had two RBI while Kubik hit .500 with three hits and two runs in six at bats. In total, the Bennies had 17 hits in 55 at bats for a .309 batting average with a .400 slugging mark. CSB's pitching staff of Peterson and Olivia Wallace had a combined 2.50 earned run average with 10 strikeouts while allowing just five earned runs in the two victories.

Game 1 – Saint Benedict 5 Wartburg 3
With two hits from senior Tori Benson and the combined pitching performances of Peterson and Wallace, Saint Benedict earned a 5-3 win over Wartburg (23-18) in a win and advance game.

Olivia Wallace started the game and worked 3 1/3 innings as she allowed four hits and two earned runs with a strikeout. Then, Ellie Peterson finished with 3 2/3 innings of two-hit pitching. She walked just one and had three strikeouts in earning the victory.

Benson led the offense with two hits and a stolen base. Sophomore Sammy Muetzel doubled and had a stolen base. Bowne also doubled and Olivia Laudenbach had a stolen base.

Game Summary -
In the opening inning, CSB took advantage of three hits, two stolen bases and three errors by Wartburg to take a 5-0 lead. After Bryn Ruhberg reached on an error, Smetana singled. When Olivia Tautges reached on an error, Ruhberg scored. Bryn Carlstrom reached on a fielder's choice and Smetana scored on obstruction at the plate for a 2-0 lead. After Olivia Laudenbach pinch ran for Carlstrom, she stole second. Then, Muetzel reached on a fielder's choice. She promptly stole second, and, with an error by Wartburg, Laudenberg scored. Benson singled to third base which plated Muetzel and Benson scored on Bowne's RBI double as CSB's advantage was 5-0. The Knights scored a run in the third inning and cut the lead to 5-3 on a two-run double by Reegan Deputy in the fourth inning. However, that was as close as Wartburg would get as St. Ben's advanced.

Game 2 – Saint Benedict 8 Illinois Wesleyan 3
With Ellie Peterson's clutch pitching in the circle and a six-run second inning, Saint Benedict recorded an 8-3 win over Illinois Wesleyan (31-12) and advanced to the regional championship.

Peterson, who improved to 15-6 on the season, recorded her 12^th complete game of the season and scattered 14 hits while allowing just three runs with six strikeouts. Peterson, who threw 125 pitches, consistently made big pitches in clutch moments as she worked out of a pair of bases loaded situations late in the contest.

Kubik recorded three hits and two runs in leading the offense. Bowne had two hits, a run scored and an RBI. Both Cat Smetana and Olivia Tautges had two-run doubles while Bryn Carlstrom had two hits and an RBI.

Game Summary - In the opening frame, Illinois Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead, but CSB quickly answered with the six-run second inning.  
Megan Erickson started the rally with a single and pinch runner Tuscany Ballot scored on a double to right field by Carlstrom.  Later in the inning, both Smetana and Tautges delivered two-run doubles as CSB took a 6-1 lead. The Titans cut the lead to 6-3 on a two-run double by Bailey Turner. In the fourth inning, CSB was able to push the lead to 8-3 on an RBI double by Ballot and Tautges, who had walked, scored on a wild pitch.