WAVERLY, Iowa – The College of Saint Benedict softball team (5-7) earned a split in a doubleheader against Wartburg (4-8) on Saturday, March 22, with a thrilling 6-4 come-from-behind victory in eight innings in the second game after dropping the opener, 5-4. Junior
Bryn Ruhberg and first-year
Lauren Freeberg both hit their first career home runs, and
Olivia Wallace tossed a career-long complete game to help the Bennies bounce back in the nightcap.
Game 1 – Wartburg 5, Saint Benedict 4
In the first game, Saint Benedict faced a tough challenge after Wartburg scored four runs in the first inning. The Bennies responded with a run in the third and three in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4. However, Wartburg regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth and held on for a 5-4 win.
Ruhberg led the offense with a three-run double, while Freeberg contributed two hits, two runs, and an RBI. First-year
Lily Treml added a hit and an RBI, and
Sammy Muetzel also had a hit and a run scored. In the circle,
Ellie Peterson (2-4) went six innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
Game 2 – Saint Benedict 6, Wartburg 4 (8 innings)
In the second game, Saint Benedict rallied for a win against Wartburg, 6-4, in eight innings. The Bennies staged a comeback after falling behind, 4-0. Ruhberg and Freeberg each hit their first career home runs to power the Bennies to a 6-4 victory in extra innings. Ruhberg's three-run shot in the fifth inning cut Wartburg's lead to 4-3, and then after CSB tied it in the 6th inning, Freeberg delivered the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning to put CSB ahead.
Also contributing offensively for the Bennies were
Olivia Laudenbach,
Tuscany Ballot and
Olivia Van Hout, who each had a hit and a run scored.
In the circle, junior
Olivia Wallace (3-1) earned her third win of the season and had a career-best eight inning complete-game victory. In throwing the eight innings, Wallace allowed four runs on six hits, with one strikeout and two walks.
Next for Bennies will be a road trip to Iowa for nonconference doubleheaders against Coe College on Saturday, March 29, followed by a doubleheader at Grinnell College on Sunday, March 30.
By the Numbers
St. Benedict was led offensively today by Ruhberg and Freeburg, who combined had seven hits, four runs and eight RBI. Breaking it down, Ruhberg had a career-best six RBI (two-game total) today while collecting three hits in six at bats. She had her first-career homer and added a double in jumping her batting average on the season to .345. She is also slugging .517 with a .394 on-base percentage and has nine RBI. Freeberg, who is now hitting .368 this season, also hit her first-career home run while recording four hits in seven at bats for a .571 hitting percentage. She also had three runs scored and a team-best eight total bases. In the circle both
Ellie Peterson (2-4) and Wallace threw complete games and combined for 14 innings and three strikeouts. Peterson now has four complete games this season and 24 in her career. Wallace, who has a team-high three wins and 2.44 ERA, now has nine career complete games.
