ST. PAUL, MINN. – The St. Catherine University softball team started the season in the best way possible. The Wildcats won all four of their games over the weekend in Rochester, Minnesota, including a 3-1 upset over No. 7 Luther College on Sunday. Pitcher Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) was key to the Wildcats success, finishing the weekend with 15 strikeouts and two wins in 12 total innings of work. She also only allowed one run in her two starts against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Luther. For her success, Flugstad has been named the Wildcat Athlete of the Week.
Flugstad picked up right where she left off in her rookie season, helping guide St. Kate’s to an 8-0 victory over UW-River Falls. The sophomore ace took a no hitter deep into the ball game before surrendering the one and only River Falls hit in the bottom of the fourth. Other than the one hit, Flugstad was flawless, striking out eight River Falls batters and only issuing four walks in the shutout win.
Against No. 7 Luther, Flugstad was just as impressive. She held the Norse to just five hits and one run after they exploded for a combined 16 runs the day before against Hamline University and the University of Northwestern (Minn.). Flugstad helped herself to win number two with her performance at the plate. After surrendering Luther’s one and only run in the bottom of the second inning, Flugstad’s ground rule double scored teammate Megan Lindenfelser (Nowthen, Minn. / Anoka) from second base. Two batters later, Flugstad scored from third to put the Wildcats up 2-1 with four innings left to play.
From there, Flugstad went to work, striking out seven Luther batters to earn her second win of the season. The St. Kate’s offense scored one more insurance run in the top of the fourth to set up the final 3-1 upset.
St. Kate’s is off to their best start since 2013, when they also started the season on a four game win streak. Now, though, they have to play the waiting game. The Wildcats are off from now until March 20, when they Loras College in Clermont, Fla. over spring break.
