WAVERLY, IOWA – The St. Catherine University softball team ended its trip to Florida on a sourer note than the team would have like. However, any lingering doubts the Wildcats may have felt after their three-game losing streak were banished in Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader against the Wartburg College Knights. St. Kate's swept the Knights in resounding fashion, beating Wartburg 2-0 in the first game before defeating the same team 6-4 in the second.

St. Kate's found its winning stride early in the first game of the afternoon/. After going down in order in the top of the first, the Wildcats rebounded by scoring their first run of the game in the top of the second. Sammie Galvez (Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field) hit a one-out infield single and advanced to third on a single by pitcher Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson). Galvez didn't have to hang out at third for very long, as Ashley Sis (Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Osseo) hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Galvez to give St. Kate's a 1-0 lead.

Flugstad sent the Knight batters down in order in the bottom of the inning, and the Wildcats went back to work on offense. Kylie Macziewski (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) extended the lead to 2-0 with a solo home run in the top of the third. Macziewski's run, though, would prove to be St. Kate's final run of the game. Although the Wildcats threatened with base runners multiple times in the following four innings, they were unable to score against the Knights stingy defense. It was no matter, though, as Flugstad continued to hold the Wartburg batters at bay. Despite the Knights best attempts to put a rally together in the bottom of the fifth, Flugstad and St. Kate's defense prevented any runs from crossing the plate, as the Wildcats went on to win game one by a score of 2-0.

Flugstad earned her MIAC leading ninth win of the season with the victory and her third shutout of the season. In seven innings, Flugstad gave up no runs on just three hits with six strikeouts.

Galvez was the team's leading hitter in game one, going 2-3 with one run while three different hitters went 1-2.

St. Kate's strong defensive play and masterful pitching was just as impressive in game two as it was in game one. First year pitcher Maddie Greer (Oakdale, Minn. / North St. Paul) earned her first start of the season after impressive performances in Florida, and she kept the Wartburg batters guessing through the first three innings of the game. The Wildcat offense, in turn, went to work figuring out Knight starter Brenna Grey.  Still, it took St. Kate's offense three innings to finally crack the Knight starter, but once it did, the floodgates were opened. After three innings of scoreless softball, the Wildcats scored three runs on three hits in the top of the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. Junior infielder Claire Woebke (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) opened the inning with a lead off single to center field then was bunted over to second by Macziewski. When head coach Colleen Powers substituted the speedy Gabby Nordman (Cloquet, Minn. / Denfield) for Woebke at second, Sis hit another clutch single to center field, allowing Nordman to score from second on a pass ball in the infield.

St. Kate's, though, wasn't satisfied with just one run in the inning. With Sis on second, Amber Montero (Circle Pines, Minn. / Centennial) hit a monster home run to extend the lead to 3-0 through three and a half innings.

Unfortunately, Wartburg answered with a two run inning of its own, cutting the Wildcats lead to 3-2 with a two-run home run by Mara Forsyth. However, St. Kate's earned one run back in the next inning as Megan Miller (Green Isle, Minn. / Norwood Young America) scored thanks to two sacrifice hits to regain a two-run 4-2 lead for the Wildcats.

St. Kate's lead was once again cut to just one run in the bottom of the sixth, as the Wildcats surrendered another home run to Kim Wedeking. Just like after the fifth, St. Kate's had an answer for the Knights solo home run. This time, though, the Wildcats answered with two runs to take a 6-3 lead as Anna Hinderaker (Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount) and Woebke both scored in the inning. Hinderaker scored on a sacrifice fly by Macziewski, and Woebke scored on yet another RBI single from Sis to help St. Kate's extend its lead to 6-3.

The Knights threatened to rally in the bottom of the seventh, as Katie Sommer, Erica Countryman and Kailee O'Brien drew walks against Kailee Berquam (Kenyon, Minn. / Kenyon-Wanamingo) to load the bases with one out of the game. Berquam, though, remained calm and used her defense to get out of the jam. Wartburg did manage to score one run on the junior in the inning, but it wasn't enough, as the Wildcats won the second game of the day as well 6-4.

Greer earned her first win of the season after giving up just two runs on three hits in three innings of work. Berquam earned the save as she gave up just two runs on four hits in four innings of work.

Thanks to the two wins, St. Kate's overall record improved to 12-6. The Wildcats will open Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play on Saturday, when they hosts Saint Mary's University in their home opener on Saturday at 1 p.m.