ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The momentum continues for the No. 25 College of Saint Benedict softball team (29-9, 19-1 MIAC), as the Bennies extended their program-record winning streak to 18 games with a doubleheader sweep of Hamline (5-29, 2-16 MIAC) on Wednesday at the CSB Softball Field, winning, 9-1 in six innings, and, 9-5.
With the pair of wins, Saint Benedict remains in first place in the MIAC at 19-1 and has now recorded nine consecutive doubleheader sweeps. Saint Benedict is one win away from clinching the top seed in the MIAC Tournament heading into Saturday's 1/3 p.m. doubleheader at Macalester.
Senior
Cat Smetana (Lake Elmo, Minn.) led the way offensively, compiling three hits and eight RBI across the two games while reaching 100 career RBI, including 32 this season. She also moved into sixth place on the program's all-time hits list with 166. Senior
Tuscany Ballot (St. Anthony Village, Minn.) added four hits in the doubleheader, including her second home run of the season and fourth of her career, driving in three runs.
Lily Treml (Shakopee, Minn.) went 4-for-7 on the day, raising her batting average to .398.
In the circle, Saint Benedict continues to show balance and depth. For the third time in four years, the Bennies feature two pitchers with double-digit wins in a season. Senior
Ellie Peterson (St. Anthony Village, Minn.) earned her 11th consecutive victory in the opener, improving to 14-5 with a four-hit complete game. She now owns 54 career wins, second in program history, along with 51 complete games and a 2.09 ERA. Senior
Olivia Wallace (Maple Grove, Minn.) followed with her sixth straight win in game two, moving to 10-2 on the season. Wallace now has 25 career victories and 21 complete games.
On the bases, the Bennies were aggressive, swiping eight total bases in the doubleheader.
Olivia Van Hout (Mahtomedi, Minn.) accounted for four of those steals, bringing her career total to 72, which ties Kim Lidstone (2013-15) for second all-time. Van Hout is now a perfect 20-for-20 in stolen base attempts this season.
Game 1 – No. 25 Saint Benedict 9, Hamline 1 (6 innings)
Peterson set the tone with a dominant performance, allowing just four hits while earning her 11th straight victory in a 9-1 win shortened to six innings.
The Bennies jumped out early with two runs in the first inning and added three more in the second before putting the game away with a four-run sixth.
Smetana powered the offense with two hits and five RBI. Van Hout added a hit, two stolen bases and two runs scored, while
Bryn Ruhberg (Lino Lakes, Minn.) contributed a hit, a run and an RBI.
Alyssa Downhour (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) drove in two runs.
Game 2 – No. 25 Saint Benedict 9, Hamline 5
Saint Benedict carried its offensive momentum into game two, scoring three runs in each of the first two innings to build a 6-0 lead before adding three more in the fourth.
Wallace picked up her 10th win of the season, allowing five runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts over 98 pitches.
Treml, the reigning MIAC Player of the Week, matched her career high with four hits for the second time in as many games, scoring three runs and adding an RBI. Ballot collected three hits and drove in two runs, while Smetana added three more RBI to cap a standout day at the plate.
