MENOMONIE, Wis. — The College of St. Scholastica softball team split a nonconference doubleheader with UW-Stout on Saturday, using a late rally to earn a 4–3 walk-off win in game one before falling 9–1 in five innings in the nightcap. The Saints move to 5–9 overall heading into their MIAC opener on Monday.
St. Scholastica opened the day with its most complete effort of the afternoon, outlasting the Blue Devils in a back-and-forth contest that wasn't decided until the final inning. After taking a 2–0 lead in the first behind an RBI sacrifice fly from Kaylei Greene (San Bernardino, CA/Summit HS) and a run-scoring single from Victoria Nelson (Lake Elmo, MN/Mahtomedi HS), the Saints saw UW-Stout chip away and eventually tie the game at 3–3 with a run in the sixth.
The Saints finished the job in the seventh. Lindsey Ewer (Hermantown, MN/Hermantown HS) sparked the inning with a pinch-hit single, and after Sami Ernst (Forest Lake, MN./Forest Lake HS) was hit by a pitch and Callie Casura (Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial HS) worked a walk to load the bases, Greene delivered the game-winning hit with an RBI single to bring home the winning run and secure the walk-off victory.
Greene led the offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Casura added two hits and reached base three times. Adie Potratz (Bemidji, MN/Bemidji HS) also recorded a pair of hits. In the circle, Aleah Shogren (Bemidji, MN/Bemidji HS) went the distance, allowing three runs on 11 hits while working out of multiple jams to keep the Saints within striking distance.
Game two saw UW-Stout take control early and never look back. The Blue Devils scored three runs in the second inning and added to their lead with a steady offensive attack, finishing with 12 hits in the 9–1 win.
The Saints' lone run came in the third inning, when Rita Langford (Webster, MN/Northfield Senior HS) scored on an RBI double from Abigail Gooden (Highlands Ranch, CO/Thunderridge HS). St. Scholastica managed four hits in the game, with Gooden, Langford, Ally Breidenbach (St. Cloud, MN/Apollo HS), and Katelyn Hackman (Oakdale, MN/Tartan HS) each recording one.
Bailey Ellison (Chaska, MN/Chaska HS) took the loss in the circle, while Aleah Shogren (Bemidji, MN/Bemidji HS) provided two innings of relief.
St. Scholastica will open MIAC play on Monday against Macalester College, with the doubleheader set to be played at Macalester due to field conditions in Duluth. The Saints will still be designated as the home team.
