DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica softball team is back in action for its first Minnesota games this season as it takes part in the ACM Tournament on Sunday in Rochester and then squares off with Hamline University on Monday in West St. Paul.
Where:
Sunday
RCTC Dome – Rochester, Minn.
Monday
West St. Paul Sports Center – West St. Paul, Minn.
When:
Sunday
vs. Ripon – 4 p.m.
vs. Cornell (Iowa) – 6 p.m.
Monday
vs. Hamline – 12:30 p.m. (DH)
Live Stats vs. Hamline: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hamline/
Social Media:
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/csssoftball
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/csssaints
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/St-Scholastica-Softball-Fan-Page-257498654307193/
St. Scholastica Saints
Stats
Record: 1-3, 0-0 UMAC
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference: Standings | Stats
What You Need to Know about the Saints:
-The Saints went 1-3 last weekend at the Finlandia Dome Classic, finishing play with a 6-1 victory over Marian University (Wis.).
-Freshman second baseman
Hannah Thul (Superior, Wis./Superior HS) had a great start to her collegiate career going 6-for-12 at the plate with two RBIs and three runs scored.
-Thul was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts.
-Senior shortstop
Alexa Bremer (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake HS) also had a solid weekend, going 6-for-14 with a team-best five RBIs.
-Thul, Bremer and
Cindi Rydlund (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) had a hit in all four games last weekend.
-Another freshmen,
Alexis Ford (Billings, Mont./Billings West HS) led the team with four runs scored.
-Junior
Maggie Schley (Mounds View, Minn./Irondale HS) led the Saints in the pitcher's circle for the team's lone win as she retired 15 consecutive batters at one point against Marian
-CSS was out-scored 10-0 in the first two innings last weekend.
What You Need to Know about Ripon:
-The Red Hawks were also in Marquette, Michigan on Sunday where they shut out Northland College, but fell to host Finlandia University.
-Ripon is led by first-year head coach, but longtime Northland coach, Steve Wammer.
-The Red Hawks will play Macalester College and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Saturday before facing the Saints.
-They will be led by all-conference pitcher Lexi Reetz.
-Reetz, second team performer last year, entered the season ranked fourth in program history for career strikeouts (243).
-Reetz had 11 strikeouts in a complete-game one hitter against Northland.
-Senior catcher Tene Robinson was also a second team all-conference performer last season.
-Robinson led the team in runs scored and was second on the squad in hits.
-Julia Sanchez led the team with four hits last weekend.
-Ripon has been picked to finish seventh in the Midwest Conference this season.
Series Record: Tied 2-2
(Last Meeting: 7-0 Ripon– 3/11/2013)
Series History: Three of the four meetings have taken place during Spring Break in Florida … The Saints and Red Hawks met in the 2011 NCAA Eau Claire Regional, which resulted in a 3-2 Ripon victory.
What You Need to Know about Cornell:
-The Rams open their season on Saturday against St. Olaf College and Luther College (Iowa).
-They will be led by first-year head coach Jackie Sernek.
-The roster features 20 freshmen and sophomores.
-Cornell went 28-10 last season and fell in the Midwest Conference Tournament championship game.
-The Rams will be led by reigning Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Year Haley Harmon.
-Harmon is a two-time All-MWC selection and a 2017 NFCA Second Team All-Region pick.
-Outfielders Melissa Orton and Carley Robison were also all-region performers.
-Cornell has been picked to finish fourth in the Midwest Conference, but did receive to first place votes.
Series Record: CSS leads 4-1
(Last Meeting: 9-4 CSS – 3/11/2013)
Series History: The last two meetings have taken place over Spring Break … The Saints and Rams have only met twice in the last 10 years.
What You Need to Know about Hamline:
-Monday's games will be the season openers for the Pipers.
-Hamline went 23-15 last season and fell in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Tournament Championship game against St. Catherine University.
-The Pipers will have to replace three seniors who were all-region performers last season.
-One all-region performer that is back is junior Aubree Douglas, who led the team in doubles (11) and tied for the team lead in RBIs with 26.
-Senior Abbie Annen was an honorable mention All-MIAC performer last season.
-Hamline also has to replace both starting pitchers from a season ago.
-The only returning pitchers on the roster recorded a total of 8.1 innings pitched last season.
-The Pipers have been picked to finish fifth in the MIAC this season.
Series Record: Tied 4-4
(Last Meeting: 8-0 HU – 3/1/2015)
Series History: The Pipers have won three of the last four meetings, including the last two at the RCTC Dome.
Looking Ahead: The Saints will play their first outdoor games in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina over Spring Break when they take part in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. CSS opens play next Sunday against Rutgers University-Camden and NCAA Division II Shaw University (N.C.).
