ST. PAUL, MINN. – The St. Catherine University softball team already knew it was headed to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoff for the third consecutive season entering Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader with the College of Saint Benedict. That was a no brainer. The real question was what seed the Wildcats would be and whether or not they would enjoy a first round bye. Despite getting swept by Saint Ben's 7-1 and 3-2, St. Kate's still clinched the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, meaning it will host a MIAC playoff game for the first time in program history.
 
The Wildcats were hoping to start things off with a win in game one as they have for the majority of the season. Unfortunately, St. Kate's fell behind early, as the Blazers scored two runs on two hits in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Wildcat were quick to answer with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, cutting the lead to 2-1. Senior Claire Woebke (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) led off the inning with a single before her pinch runner, Gabby Nordman (Cloquet, Minn. / Denfield) scored on an RBI bloop single from the dangerous Jenna George (Ellsworth, Wis. / Ellsworth) for St. Kate's first run of the game.
 
Sadly, that run was the only one the Wildcats would score in the remaining four innings, as Saint Ben's first year pitcher Ally Hjort shut down St. Kate's red hot offense. On the flip side, the Blazers scored five more runs in the final four innings, as the Wildcats lost senior ace Krista Flugstad (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) in the fifth due to injury. Saint Ben's scored three in the fifth and two in the seventh, winning game one by a final score of 7-1.
 
St. Kate's got off to a much better start in game two, as the team slowly but surely figured out Hjort. After a talk to the trainer, Flugstad returned to pitch a gem of a first inning, sending the Blazers top three batters down in order. The Wildcats then had a chance to take an early lead in the first inning, as shortstop Kylie Macziewski (Bloomington, Minn. / Jefferson) and George hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with just one out.
 
It looked like Macziewski scored two batters later, as first year Alyssa Wicks hit a soft grounder that was bobbled by the Saint Ben's second baseman. Macziewski's run, though, was called back, as George was called for runner interference going from first to second.
 
Still, the Wildcats continued to have the chance to score first, as Flugstad held the Blazer batters at bay in the first three innings of play. Hjort was not as lucky in the bottom of the third. Macziewski started the rally by hitting a towering double that hit the top of the fence in right center before George followed that up with a double of her own, allowing Macziewski to score easily from second to put St. Kate's ahead 1-0.
 
With George on second, head coach Colleen Powers opted to put Bailee Sillman (Chippewa Falls, Wis. / Chippewa Falls) in as a pinch runner. The speedy first year scored during the next at bat, as Ashley Sis (Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Osseo) hit a line drive to left center to extend the lead to 2-0. However, the Wildcats rally was cut short, as Sammie Galvez (Gilbert, Ariz. / Williams Field) and Wicks both struck out looking to end the inning.
 
However, the 2-0 lead seemed comfortable for Flugstad, who seemed untouchable during the first three innings. The senior, though, ran into trouble in the fourth, as a two-out fly ball by Sara Wennerstrand just cleared the right-center fence, giving Saint Ben's the 3-2 lead.
 
The Wildcats had a chance to score the equalizer in the bottom of the inning, as Flugstad and Woebke opened the inning with a single and double to put runners on first and second with no outs. Unfortunately, neither Flugstad nor Woebke scored, as the next three batters were sent down in order by Blazer relief pitcher Alex Smith.
 
St. Kate's once again put together another rally and seemed to score the game-tying run in the fifth. Sis drew a one out walk and looked to score on a line-drive shot by Wicks that hit the left field fence. Unfortunately, Sis could not maintain her speed after rounding third and was called out at the plate, allowing Saint Ben's to hold its 3-2 lead.
 
After that, the Wildcats were unable to put runners on base, as they went down in order in the sixth. George was intentionally walked in the bottom of the seventh but never got past first base, resulting in the 3-2 victory for Saint Ben's.
 
Macziewski and George were the team's best hitters in both games, as they went a combined 7-13 at the plate in the doubleheader. Macziewski also made history in the second game, as her infield single in the first inning broke the school record for career hits and her double in the third officially broke the record for career doubles for which she had been tied with Sis since April 21. She also eclipsed the 50 hits mark for the second consecutive season, becoming the second player in the last three years to achieve the feet.
 
With the two losses, St. Kate's overall record falls to 24-13 and the team finishes the regular season with a 17-5 mark in MIAC play. The Wildcats will be the No. 3 seed in the MIAC Playoffs and will host No. 6 Carleton College in the play in game on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. More information will be available in the upcoming days.