Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 After multiple postponements, rescheduled games and location changes due to extended winter weather, the St. Catherine University finally opened up its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) season in a double header against Augsburg College at Edor Nelson Field under the dome on the visiting team's campus. And thanks to a huge hitting day and solid pitching in both games, the Wildcats picked up 3-0 and 4-1 wins to sweep the Auggies and open MIAC play 2-0 Sunday in Minneapolis. 

Heading into the conference opener, the Wildcats' hadn't defeated the Auggies since a sweep in 2009. The wins also marked the first time the Wildcats had opened their MIAC schedule with a sweep of an opponent since defeating Macalester back-to-back in 2006.

In game one, the Wildcats received seven shut out innings from Rachael Thompson (St. Peter, Minn.) on the mound, while Lindsey Klein (Shoreview, Minn.) allowed just two hits in the second game. Both pitchers picked up their second wins of the season and did not give up an earned run to the Auggies. Thomspon pitched her first shut out and sixth complete game of the year and allowed just three Auggie hits and one walk with two strike outs. Klein threw her third complete game of the year and struck out five Auggie batters in the 4-1 game two victory. 

Jessica Tyminski (Champlin, Minn.) dominated at the plate for the Wildcats going 4-for-6 with two RBI, a home run and a walk, while Raven Baker (Minneapolis, Minn.) went 3-for-6 and scored one run. Klein also had a solid day hitting with three hits and an RBI, while Larrissa Karl (Buffalo Lake, Minn.) went 2-for-3 in the opening game.

The first game started out strong for the Wildcats when Tyminski hit her first home run of the season to send Kaitlyn Luedtke (Spring Lake Park, Minn.) home for her first of two runs on the day. The Wildcats then shutout the Auggies in the second and third innings before managing to hold them off again in the fourth after having runners on second and third with just one out. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Thompson led off with a walk to get the third Wildcat run on base. Karl then doubles to put pinch runner Callie Boelter (Henderson, Minn.) in scoring position on third. After a bunt single from Baker, Boelter crossed home on an RBI from Alyssa Luedtke (Spring Lake Park, Minn.) to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead they would never surrender. 

Again in the top of the fifth inning, the Wildcats held off an Auggie scoring threat when they retired two-straight batters with runners on second and third with just one out. Thompson then finished off six consecutive batters in the sixth and seventh to lead the Wildcats to victory in their MIAC opener. 

Game two opened with a plethora of scoring for the Wildcats with all four runs coming in the first and second innings. Alyssa Luedtke led off with a hit, while sister Kaitlyn Luedtke reached on an Auggie error. Alyssa scored on the error and then Kaitlyn followed it up with her second run of the day on an RBI from Alyssa McKee (Spring Lake Park, Minn.). 

In the second inning, Baker scored her team-leading eighth run of the season when a fielder's choice RBI from Kaitlyn Luedtke brought her across home plate to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead. Klein then send Alyssa Luedtke home with an RBI single giving the Wildcats a 4-0 lead. The Wildcats couldn't pick up another run, despite five more hits including one from Erin Fitzpatrick (White Bear Lake, Minn.). 

The Auggies managed to score one run in the top of the fourth, but couldn't put anything else together in suffering their sixth MIAC loss of the season. The Wildcats improved to 4-10 overall with the sweep of the Auggies. Next up, the Wildcats are slated to take on Bethel University for their official home opener Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at St. Catherine. 

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