Notables
-The Saints are now (33-3) all-time against the Vikings
-CSS outhit Bethany Lutheran 18-5 in the doubleheader
-Kohl and Mizera both pitched complete-game shutouts, Kohl struck out a career-high 11 and Mizera struck out 10
-Bremer was the only player in game one to earn an extra-base hit (triple)
MANKATO, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The College of St. Scholastica softball team, who has been on a roll as of late, kept to its busy schedule as it took down Bethany Lutheran College in a doubleheader matchup Saturday afternoon. Neither game proved to be productive for Bethany's offense, as the Saints took game one by a score of 2-0 and game two by a score of 3-0. The sweep over the Vikings adds to the already successful weekend as they now have three wins in just two days of action.
Game 1: CSS 2, BLC 0
The Saints were threatening early in the first of two games Saturday afternoon. Back-to-back singles by
Olivia Bretting (Ashland, Wis. /Ashland HS ) and
Hannah Borgeson (Woodville, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville HS), followed by a
Toni Bishop (Roseville, Minn./Roseville HS) walk, gave the Saints loaded bases in the first inning with just one out. The early threat wasn't capitalized on, however, as the Vikings got out of the jam thanks to Anna Pipenhagen striking out the next two batters.
Chrisi Mizera (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East HS) stepped on the rubber for CSS in game one of its two-game afternoon, looking to bounce back from a loss the previous day against Gustavus Adolphus. She started off by walking the first batter, but was helped out by a double play before striking out the third batter to end the inning.
Bretting singled for the second time in as many plate appearances in the top of the second inning, knocking in
Alexa Bremer (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake HS) in the process to give the Saints an early 1-0 lead. Mizera then struck out the side in order in the bottom of the second, maintaining the CSS 1-0 lead. After the early action in the first two innings both teams started to hit a bit of a lull as Mizera and Pipenhagen started to get into a bit of a pitcher's duel.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning, which is when Bremer tripled to left-center field to score pinch runner
Karissa Ratcliff (North Branch, Minn./North Branch HS) and make the score 2-0. Mizera mowed down the Viking lineup in the bottom half of the inning yet again, earning another 1-2-3 inning. The Vikings threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting two on the base paths with one out remaining. Mizera got the best of the Viking batter, however, earning her 10th strikeout of the game to seal the victory for CSS.
Mizera earned her fifth win on the season, while clinching a complete-game shutout in the process. Bremer led the way offensively for CSS by going 3-for-4 from the plate with a RBI triple.
Game 2: CSS 3, BLC 0
The Saints started game two very similar to that of game one, as yet again they were threatening in the first inning. This time, the Saints capitalized as Borgeson knocked in Bremer for the first run of the game.
Vanessa Kohl (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) took the mound to head the CSS defense in the bottom of the first inning. Kohl, who had just performed phenomenal the previous day against Gustavus, put together another spectacular performance. After a 1-2-3 inning for Kohl and company in the bottom of the second, the Saints struck again in the top of the third.
Once again it was Borgeson punching in another run for CSS, earning her second RBI of the day after reaching on a fielder's choice that scored
Cindi Rydlund (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS).
Scoring halted for the next two innings as both pitchers started to find their groove. That is until the top of the sixth inning when
Maggie Schley (Mounds View, Minn./Irondale HS) doubled to center field to score
Toni Bishop (Roseville, Minn./Roseville HS) and push the Saints lead to 3-0. Kohl remained perfect for the remainder of the game, shutting out the Vikings and allowing just one hit in the CSS victory.
Kohl was the main attraction in the second half of the doubleheader as she struck out a career-best 11 Bethany Lutheran batters in her first career complete-game shutout. Offensively, the Saints were led by Bremer (2-for-4 with one run scored) and Mizera (2-for-3).
The sweep over the Vikings puts the Saints at 11-11 (4-0 UMAC) while Bethany falls to 8-18 (2-4 UMAC).
Up Next
As if four games in two days wasn't stressful enough, the Saints are back at it again Sunday afternoon when they host the University of Minnesota Morris Cougars at Kenwood Field for yet another doubleheader fiesta. This will mark the first home game of the year for CSS, with the first pitch to be thrown at 2 p.m.
