ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — Behind complete-game efforts in the circle from Olivia Wallace (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Ellie Peterson (St. Anthony Village, Minn.), and a powerful day at the plate from Cat Smetana (Lake Elmo, Minn.) and Lauren Freeberg (Rogers, Minn.), the College of Saint Benedict softball team (25-9, 15-1 MIAC) swept No. 3 Saint Mary's (31-5, 16-2 MIAC) on Saturday, April 25, at the CSB Softball Stadium.
The doubleheader featured a showdown for first place in the MIAC, and the Bennies rose to the occasion, extending their winning streak to a school-record 14 straight games. With the sweep, Saint Benedict moves into first place in the conference standings and improves to 25-9 overall and 15-1 in league play. The Bennies return to action Sunday when they host St. Catherine (21-12, 10-5 MIAC) at 1 and 3 p.m. on Senior Day.
Saint Benedict's success Saturday was fueled by a balanced attack. The Bennies hit .400 as a team with a .533 slugging percentage, totaling 18 hits, 21 runs, and four extra-base hits. They also drew 15 walks, helping produce double-digit scoring efforts in both games. CSB has now scored 10 or more runs in four straight games and 12 times this season. The offensive outburst came against a Saint Mary's pitching staff that entered the day with a 1.33 ERA.
Smetana led the way offensively, going 4-for-5 with four RBI. Sammy Muetzel (Woodbury, Minn.) added three hits in five at-bats with two RBI, while Freeberg recorded two hits, scored twice, and drove in five runs, including her fifth home run of the season. Olivia Tautges (Brainerd, Minn) added one hit but scored four runs and drove in two. In the circle, Wallace and Peterson combined for eight strikeouts while allowing just five runs across the doubleheader against a Cardinals lineup that entered the day leading the MIAC in hitting.
Game 1 — Saint Benedict 11, No. 3 Saint Mary's 3 (6 innings)
Peterson delivered a dominant performance in the opener, leading the Bennies to an 11-3, six-inning victory. The senior improved to 12-5 with her ninth consecutive win and recorded the 52nd victory of her career. It marked her 49th complete game in her program-best 76th career start. She allowed just two earned runs and struck out four.
At the plate, Freeberg powered the offense with a three-run home run—her fifth of the season—while Muetzel delivered a two-run single to end the game in the sixth. Smetana added two hits and two RBI as CSB pushed its season home run total to 30. After Saint Mary's scored in the first, the Bennies responded with four runs in the bottom half, added one in the second, and broke the game open with four more in the fourth to take a 9-3 lead before closing it out in the sixth.
Game 2 — Saint Benedict 10, Saint Mary's 2 (6 innings)
Wallace took over in the circle and the Bennies completed the sweep with a 10-2, six-inning run-rule victory—their fourth run-rule win of the week. Wallace (8-2) tossed her fifth complete game of the season, allowing just one run on 97 pitches while earning her fourth straight win. She now owns 21 career complete games and 24 wins.
Offensively, Lily Treml (Shakopee, Minn.) drove in three runs, while Smetana, Freeberg, and Tautges each added two RBI. Treml finished with two hits and a run scored, Smetana recorded two hits and two RBI, and Freeberg added a two-run double. Muetzel chipped in two hits, while Tautges scored twice, drove in two, doubled, and drew three walks.
After falling behind 1-0, the Bennies responded with two runs in the second inning and five more in the third to take control, sealing the sweep and continuing their historic run.
