NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- St. Scholastica wrapped up its MIAC road doubleheader at St. Olaf on Saturday with a pair of losses, falling 4-0 in game one before dropping a 7-4 decision in the finale. The skid extends to nine consecutive games for the Saints, who now sit at 7-26 overall (1-15 MIAC).
In the opener, the Saints were held to just one hit as St. Olaf's pitching controlled the game from start to finish. Sami Ernst (Forest Lake, MN./Forest Lake HS) accounted for St. Scholastica's lone base knock, while the Saints struggled to generate sustained offense, striking out eight times and putting just three runners on base all afternoon.
Aleah Shogren (Bemidji, MN/Bemidji HS) turned in a steady effort in the circle, working all six innings, but the Oles pieced together 13 hits to push across four runs. St. Olaf broke through with single runs in the second and third innings before adding a pair in the fifth to create separation. Despite a few defensive highlights, including three double plays turned behind her, the Saints were unable to find an offensive response.
Game two showed more life from the Saints early, as they built a 2-0 lead through three innings. Kaylei Greene (San Bernardino, CA/Summit HS) drove in the opening run in the first, and Victoria Nelson (Lake Elmo, MN/Mahtomedi HS) added an RBI double in the third to give St. Scholastica early control.
That momentum shifted quickly in the fifth inning, when St. Olaf erupted for five runs to flip the game. A two-run double followed by a three-run double highlighted the inning, turning a Saints lead into a 5-2 deficit.
St. Scholastica answered in the sixth, capitalizing on a St. Olaf error and drawing multiple walks to pull within one at 5-4. Katelyn Hackman's (Oakdale, MN/Tartan HS) double sparked the rally, and Jadyn Lind (Hermantown, MN/Hermantown HS) brought in a run with a bases-loaded walk. However, the Oles responded again in the bottom half with two more runs to regain control.
The Saints threatened in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but were unable to come up with the tying hit, leaving the comeback unfinished.
Ernst and Bailey Gleich (Camas, WA/Union HS) each recorded two hits to lead the offense in game two, while Hackman added a double and reached base multiple times. In the circle, Bailey Ellison (Chaska, MN/Chaska HS) took the loss after allowing five runs over five innings, with Shogren pitching in relief.
St. Scholastica will look to regroup on Wednesday afternoon when they return home to Kenwood Field to host bridge rival UW-Superior.
