MANKATO, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University softball team picked up two wins on Saturday evening in Mankato defeating Buena Vista University 9-4 before taking down Crown College 9-5. The wins puts the Wildcats at 2-2 on the seasonĀ
GAME ONE | St. Catherine 9, Buena Vista 4
KaitlínĀ BoylesĀ led the charge in game one starting things off withĀ single to center field, coupled with an error by the right fielder, allowing
Helen McKinnon to sprint home, putting the Wildcats on the board early.Ā
In the third inning, BoylesĀ deliveredĀ a clutch single to center field that drove in
Taylor Brunn, while also advancing McKinnon to third.
Annabelle Cook followed suit with a timely single of her own, bringing McKinnon across the plate and extending the Wildcats' lead.
Mayci Larson then reached on a fielder's choice, adding another run to the Wildcats' tally.
Natalee Sigfrids kept the momentum going with a single up the middle, bringing home Cook and pushing the lead to 5-0.
The Wildcats continued to pile on the pressure in the fourth inning, as Larson's single to center field drove in another unearned run, stretching the lead to 6-0.
Buena Vista fought back in the fifth inning bringing the game to 6-4 after a two run double to center field followed by a two run homer. Boyles answered for the Wildcats with a two run double bringing in McKinnon and Brunn. Cook followed suit with a single bringing home
Lynae Doty for the 9-4 final.Ā
BoylesĀ was 3 for 5 with three RBI and one run. Cook was 2 for 5 with two RBI and one run. McKinnon and Brunn each had three runs as Brunn was 2 for 5 and McKinnon was 2 for 4. First-year
Sarah Christy earned her first career win in the circle with seven strikeouts giving up three runs.Ā
GAME TWO | St. Catherine 9, Crown 5
Tori Venneman got things going in game two with a triple to centerfield bringing Cook across the plate. Larson followed with a ground out to the shortstop bringing home Vennaman and putting St. Kate's lead to 2-0. The Wildcats continued to pile on the pressure in the third inning with Doty getting home as the result of a ground out at first base from McKinnon, followed by Cook's sacrifice fly to right field with Brunn pushing the lead to 4-0.Ā Larson then delivered a crucial double down the left-field line, plating Venneman and Boyles, extending the Wildcats' lead to 6-0.Ā
Crown got on the board in the fourth inning before an error allowed Sigfrids to score, followed by McKinnons sac fly to left field to bring in Doty and extend the lead to 8-1. Crown mounted a comeback effort in the fifth narrowing the gap to 8-5 but the Wildcats responded in the bottom frame with
Kylee Kohouts ground out brought in Vennaman securing the 9-5 victory.Ā
Vennaman was 3 for 3 with three runs and one RBI was Larson went 1 for 3 with three RBI.Ā
Erica Pronschinske earned the win for St. Kate's pitching four innings allowing two hits and one run.
Riley Leonhardt finished the game with three strikeouts giving up four runs.Ā
The 2-2 Wildcats face Bethany Lutheran College on Sunday, February 25 at 1 PM before facing on Luther College at 3:30 pm, both in Mankato.
