Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLERMONT, FLA. – The St. Catherine University softball team continued to show they will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the 2016 season. The Wildcats earned two hard fought wins in the opening games at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Florida, opening with a 2-0 wins over Carthage College and Loras College.

Strong pitching was showcased in St. Kate's opening game against the Lady Red's as sophomore starter Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) pitched a one-hit shutout victory over seven innings of work. Flugstad earned her third win of the season while striking out seven Lady Red batters and holding them to just one hit over seven innings of work.

The Wildcats strong pitching was needed through the first five innings of play as the St. Kate's offense was held scoreless through the sixth inning. The Wildcats had opportunities strike first multiple times in the first three innings, as all three leadoff batters got on base and found a way to get in scoring position. Unfortunately, St. Kate's was unable to bring their leadoff hitters home, stranding five runners in the first five innings.

Flugstad was impressive from the get go, holding the Lady Reds scoreless through the first five innings of play. Her only mistake came in the top of the first, when she surrendered a one-out single to Carthage left fielder Shannon Walsh. After that first inning, Berquam recorded three straight 1-2-3 innings, and the only base runners reached on walks.

With their pitcher holding the Lady Reds at bay, the Wildcats offense finally broke through the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning. Catcher Sammie Galvez (Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field) reached first base on a fielder's choice in the top of the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Carthage pitcher Katie Herron. With a runner in scoring position, first year Anna Hinderaker (Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount) launched a ball into the outfield for a two-out double. Galvez scored from second base, putting the Wildcats up 1-0 with two innings left to play.

After Flugstad held the opponent scoreless in the sixth inning, St. Kate's added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Sophomore second baseman Claire Woebke (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) hit a one out single to right field then scored from first on Megan Lindenfelser's (Nowthen, Minn. / Anoka) double to left center, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Flugstad sent the Lady Red's down in order in the bottom of the seventh, helping the Wildcats improve to 5-0 and remain perfect on the season.

Game two was similar to game one, with the Wildcats once again came out on top with a 2-0 win against Loras. Like Flugstad, Lindenfelser was nearly flawless, pitching a complete game shutout while giving up just three hits with four walks and nine strikeouts.

St. Kate's was held hitless and scoreless through the first four innings of play, but found a way to cross the plate in the bottom of the fifth. Galvez hit a single to right field then advanced to second on an error by the Loras right fielder. She advanced to third on a ground out by Jenna George (Ellsworth, Wis. / Ellsworth) and scored on a passed ball during Brittney Frenette's (Columbia Heights, Minn. / Irondale) at bat.

The Wildcats second run came during the next inning. St. Kate's loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with George at the plate. The first year drew the walk, scoring pinch runner Megan Miller (Green Isle, Minn. / Norwood Young America) from third for the second run of the ball game.

With the two wins, the Wildcats improve to 6-0 on the season for the first time in at least six years. They will return to the field tomorrow for two games against Colby College and Bowdoin College. First pitch against Colby will be a 5 p.m. EST with the game against Bowdoin to follow.