ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Catherine softball team posted a six-run inning in the bottom of the sixth to defeat Hamline 6-1 on Thursday at home. The win advances the Wildcats to the second round of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs on Saturday at Bethel University. 

It was a slow start for both teams holding each other to just one hit per inning until the top of the third as the Pipers scored off a single with two outs on the board. Junior Alyssa Montero retired the inning striking out the next Piper at bat leaving two on base. 

The Wildcats won the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Pipers walking sophomore Kaitlin Boyles before first-year Sarah Posey reached first off an error on the pitcher. Senior Annabelle Schutte advanced Boyles and Posey off a single followed by senior MiKayla Grant's single to drive in Boyles for the Wildcats first run. 

First-year Serena Lee's single with the bases loaded earned the winning run bringing Posey in and junior Julia Azure hit a two-run single giving St. Kate's a 4-1 lead with one out. Azure came home along with senior Alex Ehde adding the final two runs off Boyles single. 

The Pipers only had one more hit in the game getting on base with two outs in the top of the seventh before their shortstop flied out to right field. 

St. Kate's will play Bethel on Saturday at 11 am at Ona Orth Athletic Complex. The MIAC tournament is a single elimination format and will conclude on Saturday. Following the Wildcats vs. Royals is Saint Benedict and St. Olaf with the winner of both games playing for the championship. This is the Wildcats sixth consecutive visit to the MIAC playoffs. For more information on the championship event visit: https://www.miacathletics.com/championships/sball/2021-22/index