Box Score ST. PAUL, MINN. – It started as the St. Catherine University softball team's first home doubleheader of the 2016 season. It ended as one of the greatest comebacks, and longest games, in program history. Down by scores of 1-0, 3-1, and 6-4, the Wildcats rallied to beat the visiting University of Wisconsin River Falls 7-6 in extra innings to remain undefeated and score their 13^th win of the 2016 season.

The marathon game, which started at 3 p.m. and ended at 6:25 p.m., started as any normal doubleheader would. Starting pitcher Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) sent the Falcons down in order in the top of the inning and the Wildcats offense threatened with one base runner in the bottom of the first. However, UW-River Falls was the first team to cross home plate in the top of the second. Flugstad gave up two hits to Abby Veloske and Shannon Borchardt and walked Erin Ralph to load the bases with just one out in the second. She managed to get out of the inning, giving up just one run on an RBI single by Kaia Dorn.

Down 1-0 through one and a half innings, the Wildcats were itching to get on the board. Ashley Sis (Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Osseo) led off the bottom of the second with a single, advanced to second on an error by the catcher and third on Claire Woebke's (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) fielder's choice. Sis was stranded at third, and St. Kate's was unable to answer UW-River Falls' second inning run with one of their own.

After the second inning, the Wildcats had multiple chances to tie or take the lead against the Falcons. In the first five innings, St. Kate's stranded four runners, three of whom were in scoring position.

That all changed in the bottom of the sixth. Sammie Galvez (Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field) and Sis hit back-to-back singles to jump start the Wildcats offense. Galvez, though, was thrown out at third, leaving just four outs between St. Kate's and their first loss of the season. Flugstad was the hero of the inning, hitting a monster two-out double to score Sis from first and tie the game 1-1. She then went out to pitch a nearly perfect seventh inning, setting up the perfect walk off scenario for her offense. Unfortunately, the heroics would have to wait, as the Wildcats were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh inning.

With the international rule in place in extra innings, both St. Kate's and UW-River Falls were guaranteed at least one runner in extra innings as both would be able to start the inning with a runner on second. Flugstad ensured the opposition's base runner wouldn't advance past third base, sending the Falcons down in order in the eighth. Unfortunately, UW-River Fall's starting pitcher Michelle LaCasse was determined to do the same, sending the game to the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning of her own.

It looked like it was all over for the Wildcats after the top of the ninth. The Falcons managed to score two unearned runs in the inning to take a 3-1 lead. St. Kate's wasn't about to give up, and with three outs remaining, there was still plenty of time for them to at least tie the game. Sis took second as the international runner, advanced to third, and scored on a passed ball to cut River Falls lead to 3-2. Jenna George (Ellsworth, Wis. / Ellsworth), Donielle Kurvers (Monticello, Minn. / Monticello), and Robyn Rohr (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville) got back-to-back-to-back hits to tie the game 3-3 and force a tenth inning.

The Falcons international runner scored in the tenth, but once again, the Wildcats were able to score when they needed to most. Anna Hinderaker (Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount) scored from second to keep St. Kate's hopes for a perfect record alive, and Flugstad held UW-River Falls scoreless in both the 11^th and 12^th innings.

Things looked bleak for the Wildcats against after the top of the 13^th inning. Down 6-4, St. Kate's once again was three outs away from the first loss of their season. Kylie Macziewski (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) hit a big single to start the inning, moving Megan Lindenfelser (Nowthen, Minn. / Anoka), who started the inning at second as the international runner, to third base. Then, Sis proved why she has been one of the Wildcats most clutch hitters all season. She hit a fly ball deep to centerfield to score Lindenfelser from third, cutting River Falls lead to 6-5.

The Wildcats were down to their final out with Woebke at the plate. The sophomore second baseman earned a five pitch walk with Macziewski still sitting at second. First year George came to the plate with a chance to play the hero, and that is exactly what she did. With two outs and one strike, George ripped a line drive over the pitcher's head into center field, scoring Macziewski from second. Woebke scored the game winning run from first, taking advantage of a River Falls mistake in the outfield.
The dramatic 7-6 win was the Wildcats second come-from-behind win of the season and their first that required extra innings. In total, the games lasted three hours and 25 minutes, the second longest game in program history.

With the win, St. Kate's remained perfect and improved to 13-0. The Wildcats find themselves on the road for their next two series, as they take on the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire on Thursday and Saint Mary's University on Saturday. The Wildcats doubleheader against the Bluegolds will start at 3 p.m. with the second game of the doubleheader to follow. St. Kate's will open Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play on Saturday against the Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Winona, Minnesota.