The St. Catherine University softball team may have seen its 10-game program-best winning streak end Sunday, but it wasn't before the Wildcats were able to stun a University of Northwestern-St. Paul squad with 16-0 and 8-3 wins Friday night to extend the streak to 10-straight. And without the help of Megan Lindenfelser (Nowthen, Minn./Anoka), it might not have been possible at all. For her big weekend, she has been named the Wildcat Athlete of the Week.Â
Lindenfelser had a big bat in both games against the Eagles Friday as she went 3-for-4 in each contest to lead the team at the plate. In the opener, Lindenfelser hit her first collegiate grand slam in the sixth inning to drive in four runs to help push the Wildcat lead. She also hit a home run in the second game and picked up the second of her two doubles on the day in teh 8-3 victory.Â
On the mound in game two Friday, Lindenfelser pitched her third complete game and picked up her fifth win of the season. She allowed just three runs on four hits and sturk out 12 Eagle batters in the win. The first-year has now thrown 12 or more strikeouts in a single game four times this season. She suffered just her first loss of the season on the mound Sunday against Our Lady of the Lake University.Â
For the week, Lindenfelser went 7-of-10 at the plate with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI. Her .486 batting average this season is third in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) behind teammates Michaela Bruns (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and Ashley Sis (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo). Lindenfelser also ranks third in slugging percentage (.886), fifth in on base percentage (.526) and sixth in RBI (18). She also leads the MIAC in throwing strikeouts with 58.Â
Lindenfelser and the Wildcats return to action for three-consecutive doubleheaders in Texas this week. They face Schreiner University Monday at 5 p.m. in Kerrville, Texas, before taking on Huston-Tilliotson University Tuesday and Howard Payne University Wednesday.Â
