ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict softball team heads west this week for a three-day stretch of nonconference doubleheaders in Oregon from March 17–19. The Bennies will open the trip with a doubleheader against George Fox at 3:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. (CST), on March 17 in Newberg, Ore. Saint Benedict then travels to Portland, Ore., to face Lewis & Clark at 4 and 6 p.m. (CST), on March 18 before wrapping up the trip against No. 8 Linfield at 6 and 8 p.m. (CST), on March 19 in McMinnville, Ore.

Bennies Off to Strong Start
Under the direction of 14th-year head coach Rachael Click, who owns 329 career wins, the Bennies enter the trip with a 6-4 record. Saint Benedict went 4-2 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia, from March 6–8, defeating Pomona-Pitzer (9-6), Spalding (21-3), Cortland (8-0) and Mount Union (5-4) while dropping games to Pacific Lutheran (5-3) and No. 9 Huntingdon (8-4). CSB opened the season by splitting doubleheaders against UW-Stout (L, 5-2; W, 4-3) and UW-Eau Claire (W, 12-0; L, 12-11 in eight innings). The Bennies enter the week riding a three-game winning streak.

Tautges Earns Another MIAC Weekly Honor
Senior shortstop Olivia Tautges (Brainerd, Minn.) has fueled the Bennies' strong start and was recently named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Softball Offensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. The two-time All-MIAC and two-time NFCA All-Region selection has now earned the conference's weekly offensive honor five times in her career. Tautges first received the award on March 2 after a dominant showing against UW-Eau Claire, going 6-for-7 at the plate with two RBI. She finished 4-for-4 with a home run in a 12-0 run-rule victory in the opener before adding two hits in the second game.

She continued her hot start at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, batting .583 (14-for-24) with 27 total bases, 10 runs scored and 10 RBI as the Bennies posted a 4-2 record. Her performance included three home runs, three doubles and a triple, good for a 1.725 OPS with a .600 on-base percentage and a 1.135 slugging percentage. She recorded four multi-hit games during the event, highlighted by a 4-for-4 performance with two home runs, four runs scored and three RBI in an 8-0 victory over Cortland.

Over the final three games of the tournament, Tautges went 8-for-11 with nine RBI and three home runs. She enters the week riding a nine-game hitting streak and owns a .611 batting average with a 1.778 OPS through the first 10 games of the season. Tautges has collected 22 hits, scored 15 runs, driven in 12 and hit four home runs while posting a .667 on-base percentage and 40 total bases. She currently ranks among the top players in the MIAC in several offensive categories.

By the Numbers – Inside Saint Ben's
Through 10 games, the Bennies ranks second in the MIAC with a .338 team batting average and is first with a .426 on-base percentage while ranking first in the conference in runs per game at 7.90. CSB also leads the MIAC with a .970 fielding percentage and owns a .474 slugging percentage, which ranks tied for fourth in the conference.

Tautges has been at the center of those numbers, ranking among the MIAC leaders in multiple categories. Her .611 batting average ranks third in the MIAC while her four home runs lead the conference. Tautges' 22 hits rank second.

Several other Bennies have contributed offensively. Senior Olivia Van Hout (Mahtomedi, Minn.) is batting .375 with a .423 on-base percentage and is a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen-base attempts this season, giving her 57 career steals. Senior Sammy Muetzel (Woodbury, Minn.) is hitting .370 with a .414 on-base percentage, while sophomore Lily Treml (Shakopee, Minn.) carries a .355 average with a 1.028 OPS, including a .516 slugging percentage and a .512 on-base percentage.

Senior Cat Smetana (Lake Elmo, Minn.) is batting .303 with four RBI and owns an .833 slugging percentage and a .611 on-base percentage. With 10 hits this season, she now has 133 career hits and a .361 career batting average in 115 games.

In the circle, junior Kaitlyn Pink (Delano, Minn.) leads the pitching staff with a 2.10 ERA in five appearances. She is 1-1 with a save and has recorded 11 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. Senior Olivia Wallace (Maple Grove, Minn.) is 3-0 with a 4.85 ERA and has thrown one complete game, while senior Ellie Peterson (St. Anthony Village, Minn.) owns a 2-3 record with a 4.10 ERA and a team-high 17 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. Peterson enters the trip with a 42-19 career record and a 2.96 ERA. She has appeared in 75 games with 64 starts, recording 39 complete games and 11 shutouts in 387.1 career innings while totaling 273 strikeouts.

Scouting the Opponents
George Fox (4-4) enters the week under second-year head coach Nathan Ohta and will host the Bennies at Curtis and Margaret Morse Athletics Fields in Newberg, Ore. The Bruins are hitting .284 as a team, led by Corine Doran, who is batting .476 with a home run and six RBI, and Tinley Taylor, who owns a .429 average with a home run and five RBI. Nicole Ledendecker leads the pitching staff with a 3-0 record and a 3.50 ERA in five appearances. Monday's matchup will mark the first meeting between the two programs.

Lewis & Clark (7-7) will host Saint Benedict at the Huston Sports Complex in Portland, Ore. The Pioneers are 4-0 at home this season and recently defeated No. 22 Emory, 4-2, in eight innings. Head coach Shawna Cyrus is in her 17th season and holds the program record with 222 career wins. Harper Campanella leads the offense with a .450 average, three home runs and 14 RBI, while Kodie Ancheta is batting .364 with eight RBI. Maggie O'Leary leads the pitching staff with a 4-3 record, while Charlize Pope owns a 3.15 ERA.

No. 8 Linfield (10-2) will be the Bennies' final opponent of the trip, set for Del Smith Stadium on March 19. The Wildcats hold a 2-0 all-time series lead over Saint Benedict, including a 7-6 victory on Feb. 28, 2025, and a 4-3 win on March 7, 2020. Linfield enters the week on a four-game winning streak after sweeping Willamette. The Wildcats are batting .318 as a team, led by Meara Sain (.463, 14 RBI), Ashlyn Aben (.361, five home runs, 15 RBI) and Cydney Hess (.324, four home runs, 15 RBI).