ST. PAUL, MINN. – According to a proverbial saying, defense, in sports, wins championships. Thanks to outstanding defense and pitching from junior ace Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) the St. Catherine University softball team is one step closer to a championship. With Flugstad on the mound and a dominant defense behind her, the Wildcats defeated their rival University of St. Thomas 1-0 in the opening game of the NCAA Division III Softball Super Regional.
Of all the Super Regional games occurring throughout the country, the one between St. Kate's and St. Thomas featured two opponents who were relatively comfortable with the other. The Wildcats and Tommies played each other three times during the regular and postseason, with St. Kate's holding a 2-1 record against No. 23 St. Thomas. However, in those three games, the Wildcats scored 27 runs against the Tommies while giving up 15, so it seemed softball fans were in for an offensive battle between the top teams in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).
That was not the case, as St. Kate's scored the lone run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Jenna George (Ellsworth, Wis. / Ellsworth) and Kylie Macziewski (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) led off the inning with back-to-back singles while Flugstad laid down a beautiful bunt to load the bases with no outs. When Sammie Galvez (Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field) hit an RBI fielder's choice to score pinch runner Gabby Nordman (Cloquet, Minn. / Denfield) from third base, it looked like the Wildcats were in for a big scoring inning. However, St. Kate's was forced to settle for just one run, as Galvez was caught stealing on the next play and Ashley Sis (Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Osseo) grounded out to first base to end the inning.
The Wildcats threatened to extend their lead again in the fourth and sixth innings. St. Kate's loaded the bases in the fourth, as Amber Montero (Circle Pines, Minn. / Centennial) and George scored back-to-back hits, again to lead off the inning. The two were bunted over by Macziewski and Flugstad drew a walk to load the bases. However, the Tommies managed to get out of jam in the fourth and again in the sixth to hold the lead to 1-0.
The one run, though, was enough for Flugstad and the defense. The junior ace allowed just two runners to reach base during the first five innings of play, and neither reached on a hit. In fact, St. Thomas recorded its first hits of the game in the second inning, which was the only time the Tommies threatened to score and take the lead from St. Kate's. Leadoff hitter Elise Barnes hit a one out single to the right side before Melissa Barry followed it up with a base hit bunt to put runners on first and second with one out. However, Flugstad got Chase Shortly to ground out to Macziewski before walking St. Thomas most dangerous hitter Brenna Walek.
With bases loaded and two outs, Flugstad opened a marathon at bat with outfielder Megan Bush. After five pitches, Bush popped up to Montero to end the inning, and Flugstad sent the Tommies down in order in the top of the seventh to clinch the 1-0 win for St. Kate's.
Flugstad earned her 28th win of the season and recorded her fifth complete game shutout of 2017. In seven innings of work, Flugstad gave up two hits and walked just two Tommie batters while striking out two.
Offensively, Macziewski led the team by going 2-2 at the plate, while Montero and George were both 2-3. Nordman scored St. Kate's lone run while Galvez carded the lone RBI.
With the win, the Wildcats are now 37-12 on the season and need to beat St. Thomas one more time to advance to the Division III College World Series in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. St. Kate's and the Tommies will play game two at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon at St. Kate's Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. If necessary, a game at 3:30 p.m. will be played. Tickets for the Super Regional at $6 for adults, $3 for students and children under two can get into the game for free.
