DULUTH, Minn. — The St. Scholastica softball team returned to Kenwood Field on Wednesday for its first opportunity to play on the home dirt this season, but ran into a strong Saint Benedict lineup in a MIAC doubleheader, falling 12-3 and 12-0.

In game one, the Bennies struck quickly with five runs in the opening inning and continued to build from there, adding four in the second and two in the third to take control early. Saint Benedict totaled 10 hits, including a three-run home run from Alyssa Downhour and a solo shot from Tuscany Ballot.

The Saints responded in the bottom of the second inning with some momentum. Lindsey Ewer (Hermantown, MN/Hermantown HS) drove in a run, Bailey Gleich (Camas, WA/Union HS) followed with an RBI single, and Jadyn Lind (Hermantown, MN/Hermantown HS) added another to cut the deficit to 9-2. Ewer finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Gleich also collected two hits and drove in a run.

St. Scholastica added one more in the fifth inning when Ewer plated Sami Ernst (Forest Lake, MN./Forest Lake HS), but the early deficit proved too much to overcome in the 12-3 final.

Game two followed a similar pattern, as Saint Benedict again jumped out in front with five runs in the first inning and added three more in the second. The Bennies finished with 14 hits, highlighted by a four-RBI performance from Lauren Freeberg and another home run from Downhour.

The Saints produced seven hits in the second game, with Kaylei Greene (San Bernardino, CA/Summit HS) and Lindsey Ewer (Hermantown, MN/Hermantown HS) each recording multi-hit performances. Jadyn Lind (Hermantown, MN/Hermantown HS) and Santanna Heise (Rochester, MN/Mayo HS) also added hits, but St. Scholastica was unable to break through offensively in the 12-0 loss.

Despite the results, the Saints were able to take the field on their home dirt at Kenwood Field for the first time this season as they continue MIAC play. St. Scholastica will return to action Saturday at Kenwood Field.