Notables
-Program's best start since the 2004 season
-CSS improves to 5-1 vs. the MIAC thus far this season
-Saints are receiving votes in this week's NFCA Division III Top 25 poll
MINNEAPOLIS (
csssaints.com) – In a doubleheader that was originally scheduled to be played in Duluth, the St. Scholastica softball team traveled to Augsburg University on Saturday and swept the Auggies by scores of 5-4 and 2-0.
CSS 5, Augsburg 4
A four-run third inning for the Saints proved to be the difference in the 5-4 game one victory.
The Auggies (3-9) took an early 1-0 lead after scoring on an error in the first inning. After both teams stranded runners on third in the second inning, CSS had the first four batters reach base in the third inning, two of which by errors. After
Heidi Stewart (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS (Saint Mary's)) led off with a single,
Olivia Howe (Scandia, Minn./Forest Lake HS) roped a double to plate Stewart and tie the game at 1-1. Howe then scored off an Augsburg error to make it 2-1. Later in the inning, with two outs,
Haley Rosenthal (Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) drove in
Josie Fourre (Albany, Minn./Albany HS) and
Mara Seurer (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS) to extend the lead to 4-1.
A Howe sacrifice fly allowed
Nicole Anders (Port Angeles, Wash./Sequim HS) to score in the fourth to make it 5-1. Augsburg cut the margin in half with a two-run homer in the bottom frame. The Auggies then made it a 5-4 game in the fifth with a two-out single. However, Rosenthal sat the Auggies down in order in the sixth and seventh innings for the 5-4 victory.
Rosenthal allowed just four hits and struck out three for her seventh victory of the year. She also drove in two runs at the plate. Stewart was 3-for-4 to lead the CSS offense.
CSS 2, Augsburg 0
In game two, Howe struck out six in the pitcher's circle in the complete-game shutout.
The Saints were able to scratch a run across in the fourth inning with a two-out Rosenthal single to bring in
Danielle Erickson (International Falls, Minn./Littlefork-Big Falls HS). CSS then made it a two-run game with a Stewart RBI single in the fifth to score
Mady Peterson (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake HS).
The Auggies recorded at least one hit in six of the seven innings and had a runner in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings, but Howe kept them in check to preserve the 2-0 victory.
Howe scattered seven hits, while walking no one to improve to 8-1. Howe was also 2-for-2 at the dish.
Toni Bishop (Roseville, Minn./Roseville HS) also recorded a pair of hits for the Saints.
Up Next
The Saints (15-3) open Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action on Thursday when they travel to face Crown College for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
