MIAC Release

ST. PAUL, MINN. – The St. Catherine University softball team could not have gotten off to a better start than they did this season. The Wildcats are 12-0 thanks to outstanding performances on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. One of the big reasons St. Kate's is perfect this season, though, is the stellar play of sophomore pitcher Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson). The ace pitched some of the best games of her career in Clermont, Florida, improving her personal record to 6-0 and guiding the Wildcats to a 12-0 record and No. 20 ranking for the first time in program history. For her performances down south, Flugstad was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week by the conference sports information directors on Monday.

Flugstad earned her second MIAC Pitcher-of-the-Week honor after five fantastic outings at the National Training Center (NTC) Spring Games last week.  The sophomore hurler made three starts against Carthage College, Bowdoin College, and Fontbonne University and gave up just one run in 24.2 innings of work.

In her three starts against Carthage, Bowdoin, and Fontbonne, Flugstad was nearly flawless. She threw her second one-hitter of the season against Carthage in a complete game shutout for her third win of the season. Then, the next day against Bowdoin, Flugstad earned another complete game victory, striking out 10 Polar Bear hitters while allowing just four hits over five innings of work. Flugstad's only mistake of the week came against Fontbonne when she gave up a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, Flugstad sent the next three Griffens down in order to preserve her perfect record and struck out a season high 13 batters in the victory.

Flugstad was stellar in her relief appearances as well. The ace earned her fifth win of the season in a relief appearance against Salve Regina. Flugstad came in from the bullpen in the fourth inning with the game tied at two and held the Seahawks scoreless. Against Colby, Flugstad came into the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth and sent each batter she faced home packing.  

With her performances this past week, Flugstad continued to show she is one of the best pitchers in the MIAC. Her earned run average (ERA) of 0.38 is the lowest in the conference, and she ranks third in strikeouts (55) and is tied for third in wins (6). Flugstad and her fellow pitchers have helped St. Kate's to the fourteenth lowest ERA in the country at 1.55.

Flugstad and the No. 20 Wildcats will return to the field this Tuesday when they host UW-River Falls in their first home game of the 2016 season. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. with the second to follow.