DECORAH, IOWA – The St. Catherine University softball team knew its opening game of the NCAA Softball Regional in Decorah, Iowa wasn't going to be easy. The 32-11 Wildcats were set to face a tough opponent in the University of Chicago, but the team was riding a seven-game win streak and felt confident entering Friday afternoon's game. Unfortunately, St. Kate's hit a bit of a snag in its opening round game, as it fell to the Maroons 1-0 despite outstanding pitching and defensive play.
The Wildcats and Chicago both struggled to figure out each respective team's starting pitcher. Junior ace Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) sent the top three Maroon hitters down in order in the top of the first, giving her offense ample opportunity to score the first runs of the ball game. Unfortunately, Chicago starter Molly Moran was just as strong as Flugstad, as she got Anna Hinderaker (Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount) and Claire Woebke (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) to strike out, while Kylie Macziewski (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) grounded out to the third baseman.
The Maroons scored their lone run in the top of the second after Maggie O'Hara led off the inning with a single down the left field line. O'Hara later scored on a fielder's choice by Emma Nelson to give Chicago a 1-0 lead, and it looked like the Maroons would extend their lead as Holli Jones hit what appeared to be a base hit single through the five-six hole. However, Macziewski made the diving save and threw Jones out from her knees to end the inning.
Flugstad kept Chicago off the board after that second inning and held the upstart Maroons to just three hits in the final five innings. Sadly, the Wildcat offense stayed dormant in the rest of the game, as only three baserunners managed to reach base. Ashley Sis (Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Osseo) earned St. Kate's first hit of the game in the bottom of the third with a one-out single but was stranded at first base.
The Wildcats had a chance to score in the final three innings as they managed to put at least one runner on in each respective inning. With one out in the top of the fifth, Flugstad was hit by a pitch for the 10th time this season to give St. Kate's a bench runner. Head coach Colleen Powers opted to put the speedy Gabby Nordman (Cloquet, Minn. / Denfield) in to run for her pitcher, but Nordman was unable to reach second base, as Sammie Galvez (Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field) grounded into a double play.
Hinderaker managed to get the Wildcats second hit of the ball game in the bottom of the sixth with a two out bunt single down the first base line. However, during Woebke's at bat, Hinderaker was called out at first for leaving early to end St. Kate's rally.
Jenna George (Ellsworth, Wis. / Ellsworth) gave the Wildcats one last hope in the bottom of the seventh as she drew a four-pitch walk with two outs. Again, Powers opted for the speed of Sam Skwarek (St. Anthony, Minn. / St. Anthony) at first, but the next batter struck out swinging to end the game.
Overall, St. Kate's managed two hits off Moran over seven innings, while Flugstad surrendered just five and one run. The Wildcats will play again at 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon and are set to face the winner of No. 1 Luther College vs. No. 4 the College of St. Scholastica.
