ST. PAUL, MINN. – Since March of last season, the St. Catherine University softball has consistently been ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top-25. One of the players who has been key to the Wildcats recent success is none other than junior ace Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson). During the team’s spring break trip to Florida last week, the ace’s dominance continued, as she posted a 3-3 record with wins over the top teams in the nation. For her performance, Flugstad has been named Wildcat Athlete of the Week.
Flugstad’s outstanding week started on Sunday, when she broke St. Kate’s school record for career wins. The junior ace dazzled in the Wildcats second game of the day, as she held No. 11 UW-Whitewater to no runs on just four hits to earn her first shutout victory of the year. Flugstad also received offensive support early, as St. Kate’s scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead over the Warhawks, which Flugstad held in impressive fashion to earn the 39th win of her career.
The next day, Flugstad continued to dominate on the mound, as she earned a 6-1 victory over Tufts University. In seven innings of work, Flugstad allowed just four hits and one run to the three-time national champs to earn her second win of the week. Flugstad also earned another shutout win in St. Kate’s 5-0 win over Buena Vista on Wednesday.
Overall, Flugstad went 3-3 in Florida and gave up just five earned run and gave up 20 hits while striking out 24 batters. She currently leads the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in wins (8) and holds the fourth lowest ERA (1.46) and is tied for fourth in total strikeouts (50).
