ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — The College of Saint Benedict softball team (17-9, 7-1 MIAC) has a busy week ahead with three MIAC doubleheaders, including a pair at the CSB Softball Field.

The Bennies open the week against Augsburg with a doubleheader at 3:30/5:30 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis. CSB then hosts St. Scholastica on Friday, April 17, in a game originally scheduled for Duluth, Minn. Due to field conditions, the contest has been moved to St. Joseph with a 3:30/5:30 p.m. start. The Bennies wrap the stretch by hosting Hamline at 1/3 p.m. on April 18.

Directed by 14th-year head coach Rachael Click, the Bennies—winners of six straight—sit 17-9 overall and 7-1 in MIAC play, good for third place in the conference.

Season Recap: Strong 17-9 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.).

After a split with St. Olaf (8-3 win, 15-9 loss), the Bennies put together a six-game winning streak, defeating Bethel (6-3, 8-6), Concordia (7-1, 10-8) and Carleton (9-2, 11-6).

Tautges Powering the Offense
Senior shortstop Olivia Tautges (Brainerd, Minn.) has been named the NFCA Division III Louisville Slugger Player of the Week after powering CSB to seven wins in eight games.
Tautges earned her second career national weekly honor (also April 9, 2024) and her third MIAC Player of the Week award this season (sixth career). A two-time All-MIAC, two-time NFCA All-Region selection and third-team NFCA Division III All-American, she delivered a dominant stretch:

• .516 batting average
• .591 on-base percentage
• 1.065 slugging percentage (1.636 OPS)
• 16 hits in 31 at-bats
• 4 home runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple
• 14 RBI, 11 runs scored
• 7 multi-hit games

Tautges leads the MIAC and ranks second nationally with 12 home runs, while batting .500 with a 1.630 OPS. She set a program record with her 31st career home run against Concordia and now owns the second-most single-season home runs in program history (12), trailing only her 15 in 2024.

National Rankings - Tautges -

• 2nd in home runs
• 3rd in slugging percentage (1.045)
• 4th in total bases (92)
• 16th in on-base percentage (.585)

She also leads the MIAC in RBI (33), runs (35) and hits (44), with 15 multi-hit games this season.

Bennies Showcasing Depth
Olivia Van Hout (Mahtomedi, Minn.) is hitting .327 with a .389 OBP and is 7-for-7 on stolen bases, bringing her career total to 59.

Lily Treml (Shakopee, Minn.) carries a .376 average with a .980 OPS, including a .494 slugging percentage and 19 walks.

Cat Smetana (Lake Elmo, Minn.) is batting .345 with 17 RBI and has 152 career hits (ninth in program history), holding a .363 average across 131 games.

Freeberg has added three home runs while hitting .300 with a .550 slugging percentage. Alyssa Downhour (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) has also hit three home runs, driving in 10 with a .333 average and .815 slugging percentage.
 
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. A three-time All-MIAC selection, Peterson has won five straight decisions to improve to 8-5 with a 2.42 ERA, including three shutouts and 10 complete games this season.

Peterson Career notes:

• 48 wins (fourth all-time)
• 2.8 ERA
• Program-record 83 appearances
• 72 starts (program record)
• 46 complete games (fourth all-time)
• 300 strikeouts reached (438 innings; fifth all-time)

Kaitlyn Pink (Delano, Minn.) is 5-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 12 appearances, while Olivia Wallace (Maple Grove, Minn.) is 4-2 with a 4.63 ERA and owns a 20-17 career record with 19 complete games.
As a team, CSB holds a 3.74 ERA with 104 strikeouts over 172.1 innings.

By the Numbers
Through 26 games, Saint Benedict is hitting .314 (sixth in the MIAC). The Bennies rank fourth in slugging (.484) and lead the conference with 22 home runs, which ranks 13th nationally in Division III.

Scouting the Opponents
Augsburg (7-18, 2-7 MIAC)
Led by head coach Laura Heise, the Auggies are paced by Lola Pilon (.479, 9 HR, 21 RBI), along with Jayden Evenson (.348) and Kayla Shaffer (.308). As a team, Augsburg is hitting .271 with 11 home runs. Brooke Laier (4-7, 6.70 RA) and Zoe Adkins (2 wins) lead the pitching staff.

St. Scholastica (6-15, 0-5 MIAC)
Head coach Kailee Wilkins leads the Saints, who are hitting .278 as a team. Sami Ernst (.364) and Katelyn Hackman (.340) pace the offense.

Hamline (4-17, 1-4 MIAC)
Jim Rubbelke is in his 19th season (335 career wins). Jenna Rubelke (.352, 12 RBI), Abby Herbert (3 HR, 25 RBI) and Savannah Johnson (.330, 15 RBI) lead the Pipers.

Series Snapshot
CSB owns a 59-22 all-time record against Augsburg and has won six straight in the series. The Bennies swept the most recent meeting (10-7, 11-1 on April 5, 2005) and hold marks of 24-10 at home and 31-11 on the road, winning 9 of the last 10 since April 2021.

Against St. Scholastica, CSB leads 8-3 overall (6-2 home, 2-1 away) and swept the Saints 7-4 and 13-2 on April 26, 2025. The Bennies are 8-2 in the last 10 matchups.

CSB holds a 50-25 edge over Hamline, including a sweep (8-1, 10-1) on April 22, 2025. The Bennies are 28-10 at home and 19-13 on the road, winning 8 of the last 10 meetings.