ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University softball team opened the MIAC season at home on Tuesday for the sweep with a 9-1 five-inning game one followed by a 5-2 win over the College of St Scholastica Saints. St. Kate's improves to 13-7 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

GAME ONE | St. Catherine 9, St. Scholastica 1 (5 innings)
St. Kate's used a big third inning and a strong outing in the circle to secure a 9-1 run-rule win over the Saints. 

The Wildcats opened the scoring in the second inning when Annie Cook drove in Grace Swigart with an RBI double. They broke the game open in the third, highlighted by a three-run home run from Mayci Larson for the five-run inning. St. Catherine added three more runs in the fifth to seal the win early. 

Offensively, Larson led the way with three RBIs, while Cook and Ann Swigart also added RBIs. Grace Swigart scored three runs to pace the offense. 

In the circle, Alexa Carlstrom delivered a completed game, allowing just one run on seven hits while striking out three and not issuing a walk. 

GAME TWO | St. Catherine 5, St. Scholastica 2
The Wildcats completed the sweep in game two with a 5-2 win, led by Larson with a solo home run in the opening innings. Helen McKinnon tripled and later scored, and then pushed the lead to 3-0 in the fifth on an RBI fielder's choice by Faith Bonse. 

The Saints answered in the sixth with two runs to trim the margin to 3-2, but the Wildcats responded right away in the bottom half of the inning, as Shylah Brogan and Layla Nguyen came around to score on a two-run single from Larson. 

Larson led again in game two, finishing with a perfect 3 for 3 game with a home run, three RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. McKinnon also had a big game at the top of the order, going 2 for 3 with a double, triple, walk, and two runs scored. Ann Swigart added two hits, while Nguyen and Brogan each scored in the sixth. 

Taylor Graf earned the win in game two, allowing just three hits and two runs while striking out 13 over seven innings. 

St. Kate's is home again on Saturday, hosting Carleton College at 1 and 3 pm.