NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- St. Scholastica closed out its final full doubleheader of the season Saturday afternoon at Carleton, dropping game one before coming up just short in a 7-6 loss in the finale. The day was highlighted by a program milestone, as senior
Payton Lang (Lakeville, MN/Lakeville South HS) set the Saints' all-time record for hit by pitch (18).
In the opener, the Saints were limited to three hits in an 11-0 loss. Victoria Nelson (Lake Elmo, MN/Mahtomedi HS) accounted for one of those hits with a double, while Lindsey Ewer (Hermantown, MN/Hermantown HS) and Abigail Gooden (Highlands Ranch, CO/Thunderridge HS) each added singles. St. Scholastica was unable to generate sustained offense against Carleton pitching, while the Knights capitalized on early scoring bursts to pull away.
Game two provided a much stronger showing from the Saints, who rallied late and nearly erased a multi-run deficit. Katelyn Hackman (Oakdale, MN/Tartan HS) sparked the offense with a solo home run in the fifth inning before St. Scholastica erupted for four runs in the sixth. Hackman delivered a key two-RBI single in the inning, and Madi Glienke (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo Sheyenne HS) followed with a two-run hit to give the Saints a 5-3 lead.
Carleton responded in the bottom half with a four-run inning to regain control, but the Saints continued to battle. In the seventh, Lang was hit by a pitch for the second time in the doubleheader, setting the program's career record with her 18th HBP, before Ally Breidenbach (St. Cloud, MN/Apollo HS) later drove in a run to pull St. Scholastica within one. The Saints brought the tying run into scoring position but were unable to complete the comeback, falling 7-6.
Hackman finished game two with two hits and three RBIs, while Nelson added a pair of hits and Sami Ernst (Forest Lake, MN./Forest Lake HS) scored once as part of the late push.
St. Scholastica will wrap up its season Sunday afternoon at home against Augsburg, resuming a game that was suspended earlier this season with the Saints leading 3-0 in the first inning.
