ST. PAUL, Minn. -- St. Catherine softball extended their win streak to eleven with a doubleheader sweep over Saint Mary's University on Senior Day. The Wildcats improve to 16-6 overall with a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) record of 11-1, remaining tied for first with St. Olaf College. The program honored the classes of 2020 and 2021 on Sunday which includes current seniors Kathryn Proper and Alyssa Wicks plus Ashley Hoffman, Amber Montero, and Autumn Mortenson. 

GAME ONE | St. Catherine 12, Saint Mary's 0 (5 innings)
Senior Kathryn Proper tossed a shutout and improved to 7-3 on the season limiting Saint Mary's to three hits and struck out six. 

Angela Huepfel stayed on her hot streak with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning for her eighth homer of the season. Alex Ehde started St. Kate's off with a double to center field driving in Huepfel for the first run followed by a two-run single to left from senior Alyssa Wicks. 

The Wildcats rallied seven runs in the second inning with Alyssa Montero, Julia Azure, Taylor Brunn, Lindsay Burr, Huepfel, and Kaitlín Boyles all scoring for a 10-0 lead. Hupefel's home run tallied the final two RBI with Burr scoring again. 

GAME TWO | St. Catherine 8, Saint Mary's 3
The Cardinals picked up where St. Kate's left off to open game two putting up an early three runs in the first inning. The Wildcats were finally able to get on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run from MiKayla Grant.

Huepfel scored her second home run of the day in the bottom of the fourth before Grant's single to left field drove Ehde in for the tying run. St. Kate's added two more in the bottom of the fifth with Taylor Brunn and Huepfel getting across the plate for the 6-3 lead. 

Brunn, Burr and Huepfel combined for the Wildcats final three runs with Burr bringing in Brunn before Huepfel tallied another two-run home run headed into the seventh inning. The Cardinals put up a strong effort with the bases loaded and two outs before the Wildcats posted a triple play as Huepfel snagged the hit, getting the runner out at first before getting the runner out at second with help from Ehde. 

Annabelle Schutte claimed the win in the circle pitching six innings after relieving first-year Erica Pronschinske. Schutte allowed seven hits, zero runs and struck out six. 

Huepfel was 5 for 6 on the day with six runs, including three home runs, hitting .833, and recording seven RBI. Huepfel leads the MIAC in home runs this season with ten, batting average at .532 and RBI at 42. After today's doubleheader, she is now in a three-way for the program single-season home run record with Jenna George and Megan Lindenfelser. 

St. Catherine is home again on Wednesday with a MIAC doubleheader hosting Macalester College. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm. 

About the Seniors:

Kathryn Proper
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, senior pitcher, Kathryn Proper appeared in 70 games and starting in the circle 51 times in four years. With eleven regular season games remaining Proper has the 3^rd best career ERA at 2.52 pitching 286 innings and allowing 140 total runs off of 283 hits. Proper has recorded 235 strikeouts, the fourth most in program history.  Proper carries a 30-16 overall record with one save, eight shut outs, and currently ranks fourth all-time for wins.  She was named to the MIAC All-Conference first team as a sophomore and earned MIAC Pitcher of the Week accolades as a junior after starting the shortened season out 4-0 and recording 36 strikeouts. Off the field, Proper is a two-time Easton / NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete along with earning MIAC Academic All-Conference as a sophomore and junior and being named to the St. Kate's Dean's List each semester. She is an executive board member of the Wildcat Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Public Health.

Alyssa Wicks
In four years with the Wildcats, the senior from Anoka, Minnesota has appeared in 87 games starting in 63. The infielder is the recorded 34 runs in her career, tallied 61 hits, 9 doubles, and one home run.  She carries an overall .987 fielding percentage with 143 putouts.  Wicks earned MIAC Academic All-Conference honors in 2019 and 2020, is a four-time recipient of the MN Space Grant, earned the Analytical Chemistry Award in 2020, is the Secretary for St. Catherine's Women in Math Science and Engineering Club and is the President for the Society of Physics Students. We are proud to announce Alyssa will be continuing her education next year on a full scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.
 
And from the St. Kate's softball class of 2020:
 
Ashley Hoffman
Ashley Hoffman from New Prague, MN, has contributed in so many ways to the St. Kate's Softball program. As a player, Ashley began her career in Cape Town, South Africa on an international trip. Her passion for the game of softball and positive attitude every day was second to none. Ashley's creativity was an asset to each team we were lucky to have her be a part of. A 2020 graduate of St. Kate's with a Bachelor's Degree focused in Exercise and Sport Science, she continues her course work in the Occupational Therapy Program. She is a passionate youth softball coach, a hard working PCA, and can be spotted walking her dog Ellie around campus on nice days. 
 
Amber Montero
The Circle Pines, Minnesota native, recorded 471 at-bats, tallying 151 hits, 34 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 17 walks, 83 RBIs, and 88 runs scored, with a career .321 batting average, .349 on-base percentage, and .467 slugging percentage. In the field, she has made 170 total putouts, with 6 assists, and will leave the program with an overall .972 fielding percentage. As a freshman, Montero earned a MIAC Athlete of the Week nod, MIAC All-Conference honors, and was named MVP of the Decorah Regional. She was also named to both the MIAC and Regional All-Tournament teams during her first-year campaign. Montero was named to the MIAC All-Tournament team as a sophomore and received All-Conference Honorable Mention as a junior. Adding to her list of accolades, she was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team this season, was a two-time recipient of MIAC Academic All-Conference honors, a three-time Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, a two-time Fleur-de-lis award winner and was honored with the Sheila Brown award in 2020.  Amber graduated with a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science, and continues her coursework in the doctor of Physical Therapy program.
 
Autumn Mortenson
In her time on the field for the Wildcats' the Cottage Grove, Minnesota native appeared in 67 games and started 54. In the batter's box, Mortenson totaled 30 hits, three doubles, six walks, seventeen RBI, and seven runs. In 132 at-bats, she combined for a career .227 batting average, .282 on-base percentage, and a .250 slugging percentage. Behind the plate, she tallied 287 putouts, 24 assists, and finished with a .987 fielding percentage. As a sophomore, Mortenson was named to the MIAC All-Sportsmanship Team, and as a junior earned an All-Conference Honorable Mention. She was also named to the Academic All-Conference Team as a junior and is a three-time Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete. Mortenson has earned two Fleur-de-lis awards in her time in the purple and gold and was a recipient of the Sheila Brown Award in 2020. Autumn graduated last Spring with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics & Economics.