The St. Catherine University softball team had been off to a hot start winning five of its six opening games in 2015 and hoped to keep rolling with three dome games on tap before returning to
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Wednesday. Behind a perfect game from Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) and a no hitter from Kailee Berquam (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo), the Wildcats extended their winning streak to eight-straight with a 10-2 decision over Martin Luther College in six innings before cruising to a pair of five inning wins over Maranatha Baptist University (16-0) and North Central Unviersity (31-0) Friday in Plymouth, Minnesota.
With the three wins Friday, the Wildcats have already matched their season win total from a year ago an improved to 8-1 on the season. In the win over North Central, Flugstad became the first Wildcat pitcher to throw a perfect game in program history since 2000 according to available records. The first-year hurler struckout 13 of the 15 batters she faced in five innings pitched. Her 13 strikeouts was a season-high and tied the season high for the Wildcats.
Flugstad wasn't the only Wildcat first-year pitcher to stun the opponent as Berquam tossed a no hitter in her first collegiate start against Maranatha Baptist. Prior to Flugstad, Berquam was the first Wildcat to pitch a no hitter since two combined to reach the feat in a win over Crown College in 2010. Berquam struck out 11 batters in five innings pitched to score the shutout and her first win.
Megan Lindenfelser (Nowthen, Minn./Anoka) also had another solid outing for the Wildcats pitching five innings in the first victory over the Knights. For the second time this season, the first-year threw 13 strikeouts. She also allowed just one hit in 19 batters faced.
Not only was Lindenfelser solid on the mound, she helped generate offense for the Wildcats as she recorded her first collegiate home run – a two run shot – in the win over Maranatha. She finished the day 4-for-8 at the plate with six RBI and four runs scored.
Michaela Bruns (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) had the big bat for the Wildcats again going 10-for-11 at the plate with 10 runs scored and 16 RBI. She cranked her first collegiate grand slam in the sixth inning of the game one win over Martin Luther. She also hit six doubles in the three games and hit another homer in the win against North Central.
Senior
Jessi Tyminski (Champlin, Minn./Totino-Grace) finally got her bat going as she tallied eight hits in her 12 at bats with six RBI, four runs scored and two doubles.
Ashley Sis (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo) continued her strong hitting going 7-for-11 with three RBI and four runs scored.
Kylie Macziewski (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) also continued to come up with big hits as she tallied a triple, double and single and came across the plate twice.
Michaela Thielfoldt (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) and
Bethany Del Real (Los Angeles, Calif./John Marshall) had their first opportunity to make an impact at the plate with each picking up three hits a piece. Thielfoldt crossed home plate with eight runs, while Del Real tallied five RBI, four runs and a double.
Abbey McCartney (Eagan, Minn./Eagan) also went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBI.
Donielle Kurvers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) and
Robyn Rohr (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) also collected four hits each with Kurvers tallying six RBI and Rohr recording four.
The Wildcats are slated to return to MIAC Wednesday as they take on 2014 MIAC playoff qualifier Bethel University. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the Ona Orth Complex in Arden Hills, Minnesota.
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