COLUMBUS, Ga. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team (4-6) dropped a pair of close games to Pacific Lutheran (4-1), 7-5, and No. 18 Pfeiffer (6-2), 4-2, as the Bennies wrapped up their play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday.

The Bennies had a 2-4 record at the classic but lost three games by two runs of fewer. In the six games, which included three top 25 ranked opponents, CSB hit .293 with a .383 slugging mark and scored 26 runs with seven doubles and two home runs. In the circle, CSB had 25 strikeouts in 40 innings, allowing 29 earned runs. During the classic, CSB head coach Rachael Click recorded her 300th career in a 5-1 win over Spalding U on Feb. 28.

CSB will be back on the diamond by hosting Wartburg in a nonconference doubleheader on March 22 at the CSB Softball Complex.

By the Numbers
At the NFCA Leadoff Classic, junior infielder Cat Smetana was 11-of-22 with three doubles, four runs and a .500 batting average with a .636 slugging mark. She had a team-high eight RBI. Olivia Tautges was 8-of-23 for a .348 average and hit a pair of home runs with 17 total bases.

Junior designated player Cadence Koste hit .375 with a .438 slugging mark. First-year Lily Treml and junior Bryn Ruhberg both hit .333 with a .400 slugging mark at the classic. In the circle, CSB was led at the leadoff classic by junior pitcher Olivia Wallace who was 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in three appearances. She had eight strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

Through nine games this season, Smetana has a team-high 18 hits in 37 at bats for a .486 average and is tied with Megan Erickson for a team-high 10 RBI. Smetana has a .595 slugging mark and .513 OBP. and .739 slugging mark at the leadoff classic. Tautges is hitting .308 with two home runs, two triples and two doubles, eight RBI, a team-best 24 total bases and a .615 slugging mark. Koste is hitting .333 and Erickson sits at .303 with a .455 slugging mark.
 
Pacific Lutheran 7 Saint Benedict 5
Despite three hits by Cadence Koste and two by Olivia Tautges, including a home run, St. Benedict dropped a 7-5 decision to Pacific Lutheran (4-1) on Sunday.

After the Bennies took a 2-0 lead, Pacific Lutheran scored three in the home half of the inning for a lead. CSB tied the game in the second before a three-run third frame gave the Lutes a 6-3 lead. CSB pushed across two runs in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 6-5.  

Tautges hit her second home run of the season and 18^th of her career (3^rd all-time at CSB) in the first inning. Koste had a season-best three hits and Bryn Ruhberg added a hit, run scored and RBI.

First-year Anna Corbid (0-2) started and took the loss after pitching 2 1/3 innings and allowing five hits and six runs. Junior pitcher Olivia Wallace allowed four hits and one run in 3 2/3 innings as her ERA dropped to 2.71 in five appearances this season.

No. 18 Pfeiffer 4 Saint Benedict 1
Despite three hits by Cat Smetana and a solid performance in the circle from Ellie Peterson, CSB softball lost to No. 18 Pfeiffer (6-2), 4-2, on Sunday to wrap up play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

The Bennies also had a hit and RBI from Megan Erickson and two hits from first-year Lily Treml in totaling nine hits on the day.

After Pfeiffer took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Bennies answered when Treml singled and then pinch runner Izzy Guttenfelder stole second and scored on Erickson's 10^th RBI of the season. Pfeiffer added two more runs in the fourth frame before CSB rallied in the seventh inning. Tautges scored on Smetana's 10^th RBI of the season to draw the Bennies within 4-2. After that, CSB loaded the bases but couldn't bring across any more runs.

In the circle, Ellie Peterson (2-3) allowed two earned runs while recording three strikeouts in throwing her fourth complete game of the season and 24^th of her career.