ST. PAUL, MINN. – The St. Catherine University softball team waited a long month before finally being able to play softball in Minnesota again. While the game was in a dome, the Wildcats were finally able to open the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) season with a doubleheader against Carleton College Sunday night and Monday morning. Thanks to strong pitching and dominant hitting, St. Kate's was able to win its conference opener 11-3 but lost game two 2-0.
 
The Wildcats took game one behind strong pitching from senior Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) and a red hot offense. In fact, St. Kate's opened the game by scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a three-run blast from Jenna George (Ellsworth, Minn. / Ellsworth). The junior third baseman went yard to the opposite field, expending the Wildcats lead to 5-0 after Anna Hinderaker (Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount) scored on an error during Ashley Sis' (Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Osseo) at bat.
 
St. Kate's tacked on another run in the bottom of the second, as shortstop Kylie Macziewski (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) sped home on an RBI double again by Sis, extending the lead to 6-0. However, the Knights were the next team to score, as relief pitcher Sarah Ogle held the Wildcat batters at bay in the third and fourth innings, allowing Carleton to cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the fifth. A lead off walk, fielding error, and home run from Katie Eppard led to a three-run inning for the Knights and subsequently cut St. Kate's lead to 6-3 with two innings remaining in the game.
 
However, the Wildcats took care of business in the bottom of the sixth, thanks, once again, to a home run. This time it was catcher Sammie Galvez (Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field) who went yard for St. Kate's, as she hit a monster grand slam to center field to secure the 11-3 win for the Wildcats.
 
The second game of the doubleheader was a different story, as it featured a pitches dual between first year Kathryn Proper (St. Paul, Minn. / Como Park) and Carleton's Sam Kile. For nearly six full innings, the two pitchers managed to hold the respective opposing offense at bay, pitching their way out of multiple jams in the process. Unfortunately, the Knights eventually did strike through in the top of the sixth and again in the seventh to win the game 2-0.
 
St. Kate's looked to strike first, just like it did in the first game. After Proper sent the first three Carleton batters down in order, the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out thanks to singles from Amber Montero (Circle Pines, Minn. / Centennial) and Macziewski and a walk by George. Unfortunately, Sis and Galvez ended the inning with back-to-back pop ups, stifling St. Kate's first golden scoring opportunity.
 
For the next three innings, Proper and Kile basically sent opposing batters down in order, and if they didn't, they managed to pitch their way out of a jam. Proper faced the biggest challenge of her collegiate career, as she loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second. The first year pitcher showed poised on the mound, getting a ground out and a pop out to end the inning. In the bottom of the very next inning, the Wildcats put together another scoring chance and seemed to have taken the lead with George jacked a ball toward the left field fence. Unfortunately, the ball skimmed the top of the dome, resulting in an out for St. Kate's.
 
Both teams put runners on in the fourth and fifth innings, but it wasn't until the sixth when the Knights finally managed to break through. The lead off hitter for Carleton reached on a walk and then put runners in scoring position after an error by Claire Woebke (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) put runners on first and third with no outs. The Knights then took advantage on an error, scoring an unearned run on a play at the plate to take a 1-0 lead over the Wildcats.
 
St. Kate's put together a small rally in the sixth but was unable to score the game-tying run. Carleton then added another run in the seventh inning to take a 2-0 lead over the Wildcats. However, St. Kate's seemed to have a few more tricks up their sleeve as Emily Saurer (Victoria, Minn. / Chanhassen) and Hinderaker reached on back-to-back hits and Macziewski was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.
 
It looked like George ended the ball game when she hit another soaring line drive toward the center field fence. Again, though, the ball tailed too high, hitting the top of the dome for out number two. Sis then hit a sharp grounder, but the Knights third baseman made the play, ending the Wildcats' rally and hopes of a sweep to open conference play.
 
With the split, St. Kate's overall record improves to 8-9 and the team opens MIAC play with a 1-1 record. As of now, the Wildcats next game will be on April 10, when they are scheduled to host Wartburg College at 2 and 4 p.m. at St. Kate's Field. Stay tuned to St. Kate's athletics website and social media for scheduling changes as the week progresses.