The St. Catherine University softball team returned to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play following spring break with a strong start as the young squad split both of its series earlier in the week. Unfortunately, the Wildcats couldn't generate enough offense to take down a Bethel University squad that has powered its way to 8-2 early in the conference season. The Wildcats dropped the opening game 4-1 before falling 2-1 in a close game two battle Friday afternoon in Arden Hills, Minnesota.
In both of Friday's games, the Wildcats put their best foot forward in the opening inning as they plated both their runs in the top frame. Not only were the Wildcats only able to score two runs on the day, they tallied just eight hits as opposed to the 12 hits for the Royals.
Game one started off with
Robyn Rohr (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville) reaching base on a walk before crossing home plate on a Royal error to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the inning. However, the lead didn't last long as the hot Royal offense got going with Angie Jackson leading off with a home run to tie the game just one hitter in. Then, Caroline Kivisto came home for the second run of the inning to give the Royals a 2-1 lead.
Both teams were held scoreless through the next two innings before the Royals added two more runs to their lead on a home run from Kelsey Anderson in the bottom of the fourth inning en route to victory.
Megan Lindenfelser (Nowthen, Minn./Anoka) pitched a complete game on the mound for the Wildcats allowing four runs on eight hits striking out six Royal batters.
In game two, the Wildcats started off in similar fashion with Rohr reaching base in the first at bat with her second hit of the day. Two batters later, Lindenfelser hit a double down the left field line to send Rohr on her way home before she was thrown out on a long toss from left field.
Michaela Bruns (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) then hit a single up the middle to bring Lindenfelser home for the Wildcats' lone run in game two. With the hit, Bruns recorded her 30th RBI of the season which is now tied for second all-time at St. Kate's for RBI in a single season.
The Wildcats managed to hold the Royals scoreless until the second inning when Kalyn Sorensen hit the third Royal home run of the day to tie the game at 1-1. Jessica Brown then came home on a RBI single from Abbie Bircher in the bottom of the fifth to give the Royals the lead for good.
Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) threw her eighth complete game of the season on the mound in game two. She gave up just four hits to the Royals and two earned runs while striking out seven batters.
Bruns, Rohr and Lindenfelser finished the day with two hits each, while
Donielle Kurvers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) and
Kylie Macziewski (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) each picked up a hit.
With the losses, the Wildcats fall to 17-7 on the season and 4-4 in the MIAC. They are scheduled to return home Saturday to face league-leading Hamline University for a 1 p.m. doubleheader in St. Paul.
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