ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Fueled by an explosive offense and dominant pitching performances, the College of Saint Benedict softball team (17-11, 9-3 MIAC) swept a conference doubleheader against Carleton (8-22, 2-10 MIAC) on Wednesday, April 16 at the CSB Softball Field.
The Bennies moved to 17-11 overall and 9-3 in the MIAC to sit in second in the conference standings. And, the Bennies won for the fifth time in six conference games with their recent run of success showcasing 11 wins in 14 games.
Over the two games, CSB outscored Carleton 20-4, registered 21 hits—including nine extra-base hits—and hit .396 as a team, finishing with a .660 slugging percentage. They also stole five bases and held a 2.33 team ERA across 12 innings, striking out 12 while allowing just four earned runs.
Game 1 – Saint Benedict 15, Carleton 4 (5 innings)
The opener was highlighted by a record-setting second inning where the Bennies scored 14 runs—marking their highest single-inning total of the season—en route to a 15-4 run-rule win.
Cat Smetana tied her career high with four hits and set a new personal best with five RBI, including a three-run homer and a double.
Tuscany Ballot also hit her first collegiate home run, a three-run shot during the same inning.
Olivia Van Hout contributed two hits, two runs, and two of CSB's three stolen bases. Ten different players recorded hits in the 15-hit barrage.
In the circle,
Anna Corbid (2-2) earned the win with two innings of relief, allowing two hits and two runs.
Ellie Peterson started and threw two shutout innings with three strikeouts, while Addy Brown also saw an inning of work.
Game 2 – Saint Benedict 5, Carleton 0
The second game showcased a dominant performance in the circle by junior
Olivia Wallace (7-4), who threw her second shutout and fifth complete game of the season. She scattered six hits, walked one, and struck out six, earning the 13th complete game of her career.
At the plate,
Bryn Ruhberg led the way with two doubles, a run scored, and an RBI.
Olivia Van Hout tripled and drove in a run, while
Megan Erickson,
Lily Treml, and Smetana each added RBI hits. CSB broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the third on an RBI double by Treml and Smetana's single. In the sixth, the Bennies added three more runs with key hits from Erickson, Van Hout, and Ruhberg to secure the 5-0 win.
By the Numbers
Smetana finished the day 5-for-7 with six RBI, a home run, and a double, raising her season average to .412 and her RBI total to 27—both team highs. Ruhberg, who had three hits in three official at bats, now sits at a .365 average, and Van Hout turned in another all-around performance with three hits, three runs, three RBI, and two stolen bases. Meanwhile,
Olivia Tautges recorded two hits to reach 99 career hits.
Up Next:
Saint Benedict travels to Winona, Minn., on Saturday, April 19, for a key MIAC showdown against first-place Saint Mary's. First pitch is scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.
