ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — The College of Saint Benedict softball team (13-9, 3-1 MIAC) travels this weekend for a pair of MIAC doubleheaders, facing Concordia-Moorhead (8-8, 0-2 MIAC) on Saturday and Carleton (10-10, 0-4 MIAC) on Sunday.

Directed by 14th-year head coach Rachael Click, the Bennies opened the season 13-9 overall and 3-1 in conference play following a sweep of Bethel. Saint Benedict faces Concordia in a 3 and 5 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at Moorhead (Minn.) High School Field before taking on Carleton at 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday at Elle Hansen Field in Northfield, Minn.

Season Recap: Strong 13-9 Start

Saint Benedict opened the season by splitting doubleheaders against UW-Stout (5-2 loss, 4-3 win) and UW-Eau Claire (12-0 win, 12-11 extra-inning loss). The Bennies then went 4-2 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia, with wins over Pomona-Pitzer, Spalding, Cortland and Mount Union.

On their Oregon trip, CSB went 2-4, sweeping George Fox before falling to Lewis & Clark and No. 8 Linfield. Back home, the Bennies swept Bethany Lutheran (9-0, 2-1), highlighted by a three-hit, five-RBI performance from Lauren Freeberg (Rogers, Minn.).

In a recent MIAC sweep, Saint Benedict used late-inning home runs to secure both wins. Olivia Tautges (Brainerd, Minn.) hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning of a 6-3 game-one win, while Izzy Radel (Owatonna, Minn.) delivered the difference with a sixth-inning blast in an 8-6 game-two victory.

Tautges Powering the Offense

Senior shortstop Olivia Tautges has been one of the most productive hitters in Division III and a two-time MIAC Player of the Week this season (five career honors). Recently named to the NFCA Watch List, she is batting .507, which ranks 29th in Division III and first in the MIAC. With 10 home runs, Tautges ranks second in Division III and first in the MIAC, while her 0.45 home runs per game sits third nationally. She owns a .598 on-base percentage (19th in Division III, first in the MIAC) and a 1.028 slugging percentage (seventh nationally, first in the MIAC). Tautges leads the MIAC in RBI (24), runs (29) and hits (36). In 114 career games, Tautges has 29 home runs, ranking second in program history and just one shy of the program record. She also has 95 RBI (sixth all-time), a .752 slugging percentage (fifth all-time at CSB) and a .469 on-base percentage (seventh all-time).

Bennies Showcasing Depth 

Olivia Van Hout (Mahtomedi, Minn.) is hitting .327 with a .389 on-base percentage and is 7-for-7 on stolen bases, bringing her career total to 59. Lily Treml (Shakopee, Minn.) carries a .400 average with a .506 OPS, including a .529 slugging percentage and has 16 walks. Cat Smetana (Lake Elmo, Minn.) is batting .313 with 10 RBI and has accumulated 144 career hits, owning a .358 average across 127 games. In addition, sophomore Lauren Freeberg (Rogers, Minn.) has hit three home runs while hitting .319 with a .638 slugging mark. Both Alyssa Downhour (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and Radel hit their first career home runs against Bethel.

Strength in the Circle

Senior Ellie Peterson (St. Anthony Village) anchors the pitching staff and was recently named MIAC Pitcher of the Week after recording her 12th career shutout in a 9-0 win over Bethany Lutheran. She allowed just three hits and struck out five on 57 pitches over five innings. A three-time All-MIAC selection, Peterson ranks among program leaders with 46 career wins (tied for fourth), 12 shutouts (fourth), 44 complete games (seventh) and 424 innings pitched (fifth). Her 70 career starts are the most in program history. She enters the weekend 6-5 with a 2.73 ERA and eight complete games in 10 starts.

Kaitlyn Pink (Delano, Minn.) is 3-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 10 appearances, while Olivia Wallace (Maple Grove, Minn.) is 4-2 with a 4.68 ERA and owns a 20-17 career record with 19 complete games.

By the Numbers

Through 22 games, Saint Benedict is hitting .320 as a team, ranking sixth in the MIAC. The Bennies rank fourth in slugging percentage (.472) and lead the conference with 18 home runs, a total that ranks among the top 20 in NCAA Division III.

Scouting the Opponents

Concordia-Moorhead (8-8, 0-2 MIAC)
Led by first-year head coach Cora Zackrison, the Cobbers enter after two losses to Gustavus. Mallory Leitner leads the team with five wins, while Lily Heskin is hitting .406. Reese Hauck has two home runs and 15 RBI, and Kailee Falconer is batting .382.

Carleton (10-10, 0-4 MIAC)
Led by second-year head coach Amy Erickson, the Knights are coming off two losses to Saint Mary's. Megan Smith leads the team with a .362 average, while Adrianna is hitting .439 and Esme Song adds a .283 mark. Sydney Trentman leads the pitching staff at 5-3 with a 2.64 ERA.

Series Snapshot

Saint Benedict holds a 55-19 all-time advantage over Concordia, including a split in 2025, and is 28-11 on the road in the series.

The Bennies are 67-11 all-time against Carleton, including a sweep in 2025, and hold a 33-8 road record in the matchup.