COLUMBUS, Ga. – Cat Smetana led the (RV) College of Saint Benedict softball team to a split in their opening games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Friday, February 28. Smetana registered five hits and four RBIs to help the Bennies (3-3) defeat Spalding University (0-1) 5-1 before falling to No. 2-ranked Linfield (2-0) in a nail-biting 7-6 game.

Saint Benedict will look to improve their record on Saturday, with games against No. 22 Redlands at 9 a.m. and Alma College at 11:30 a.m. With five hits in eight at bats, Smetana is now leading CSB with a .522 batting average, .652 slugging mark and a .542 on-base percentage. In the 5-1 win over Spalding U, CSB head coach Rachael Click recorded her 300th career win.

(RV) Saint Benedict 5, Spalding 1
The Bennies started the day with a 5-1 win over Spalding, backed by a solid performance from junior shortstop Olivia Tautges, who contributed two hits and three RBIs. Tautges, also scored a run, while Smetana added two hits and an RBI. First-year infielder Izzy Radel had two hits, and the team finished with eight hits overall.

CSB got on the board early with a first-inning run when Tautges singled, stole second, and scored on a bunt single by Smetana. They added to their lead in the sixth when Spalding made an error, allowing Olivia Van Hout to score. The game was sealed in the seventh when Tautges hit her second triple of the season, clearing the bases for a 5-0 lead.

In the circle, first-year pitcher Anna Corbid started the game, throwing three scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out three. Olivia Wallace came in to finish the game, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four, earning her first win of the season.

No. 2 Linfield 7, (RV) Saint Benedict 6
In a thrilling second game, CSB came close but ultimately fell to No. 2 Linfield, 7-6. The Bennies held leads of 2-0, 5-3, and 6-4, but Linfield's three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the difference.

Smetana was a standout once again, collecting three hits and driving in three runs. First-year outfielder Lily Treml also contributed with two hits and two RBIs, while junior Cadence Koste added a run-scoring double.

The game started strong for CSB, with Smetana's RBI double driving in Treml, who had walked and stolen a base. Smetana later scored on Koste's RBI double to give the Bennies a 2-0 lead. Linfield responded with three runs in the bottom of the first, but CSB regained the lead with three runs in the second. Treml's single brought in two runs, and Smetana's second RBI double of the game scored Treml.

Linfield narrowed the lead to 5-4, and CSB extended it to 6-4 in the fourth inning when Smetana drove in Tautges, who reached on an error. However, in the sixth, Linfield capitalized on three runs to take a 7-6 lead and held on in the seventh to secure the victory.

Ellie Peterson pitched a complete game for CSB, allowing seven runs on 12 hits while striking out five. Lacey Vasas earned the win for Linfield, tossing 5.1 innings and giving up three hits, one unearned run, and three strikeouts.