ST. JOSEPH, Minn. -- To open the MIAC schedule, the College of Saint Benedict softball team (11-9, 1-1 MIAC) split a doubleheader with St. Olaf (8-11, 1-1 MIAC) on Tuesday (April 7), winning an 8-3 decision in game one before falling, 15-9, in game two, a six-inning contest called due to darkness.
In the opener, CSB was led by senior pitcher
Ellie Peterson (St. Anthony Village, Minn.), who earned her 45th career win with her 43rd complete game and made her 69th career start - the most in program history. On the day, the offense was paced by senior
Olivia Tautges (Brainerd, Minn.), who totaled four hits and hit her ninth home run of the season and 28th of her career (second all-time). Sophomore
Lauren Freeberg (Rogers, Minn.) added five hits and a home run, while
Lily Treml (Shakopee, Minn.) also recorded four hits.
Game 1 — Saint Benedict 8, St. Olaf 3
The Bennies opened MIAC play with an 8-3 win in game one.
In the circle, Peterson improved to 5-5 on the year, tossing her fifth complete game of the season and 45th of her career. She struck out five, walked two, and allowed three runs on seven hits.
The offense broke a 1-1 tie with a five-run fifth inning and added two more runs in the sixth. Treml led the way with three hits and a run scored. Tautges had two hits, including her MIAC-leading ninth home run. Freeberg homered for the second time this season and scored twice.
Tuscany Ballot (St. Anthony Village, Minn.) added two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.
Game 2 — St. Olaf 15, Saint Benedict 9
The Bennies totaled 11 hits but fell, 15-9, in a six-inning game shortened by darkness.
Cat Smetana (Lake Elmo, Minn.) had two hits and two RBIs, while Freeberg recorded three hits and an RBI to lead the offense. CSB held leads of 6-5 and 9-7 before St. Olaf's Hannah Yaeger hit a grand slam in the fifth inning to give the Oles an 11-9 advantage. St. Olaf added four more runs in the sixth inning.
Olivia Laudenbach (St. Cloud, Minn.) had a hit and two RBIs, Tautges added two hits, a run, and an RBI, and Treml scored twice.
Olivia Wallace (Maple Grove, Minn.) took the loss to fall to 4-3, striking out two over 3 2/3 innings while allowing seven runs.
CSB returns to action with a MIAC doubleheader against Bethel at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., Wednesday at the CSB Softball Field.
