NORTHFIELD, Minn. – After scoring double-digit runs in a pair of wins on Sunday, the Carleton softball team's offense was held in check on Thursday afternoon at Ele Hansen Field. The Knights scored just three runs in a pair of losses to Saint Mary's, falling 8-0 in the first game and 6-3 in the second.
Game 1
A scoreless tie heading to the third, Thursday's opener was cracked open by the Cardinals in the top half of the inning. After the Knights captured the first out of the inning, Makayla Steffes reached on an error and advanced to third for the Cardinals, she came in to score on a Megan McGinnis groundball out.
With two outs and a 1-0 score, Saint Mary's rallied to load the bases. Naleya Bork walked, then Peyton Berg and Ali French both singled. Heather Nordlund cracked the game open with the next at-bat. Nordlund sent a rocket over the center field fence for a grand slam to give her team a 5-0 lead.
The Cardinals scored two more in the top of the fourth and the final run in the top of the fifth inning to tally an 8-0 lead. Though the Knights put together five hits, the Knights were not able to put any runs across in the 8-0 loss.
Junior
Ella Collins led the way in the batter's box for the Knights with a pair of singles.
Bryanna Schaffer tallied the only extra-base-hit, as Carleton put up five hits for the game. The Knights left four on base and committed one error.
First-year
Rachel Block suffered the loss in the circle, pitching all five innings and giving up eight runs, only one of which was earned.
Game 2
Thursday's second game saw the Cardinals out to an early lead. Saint Mary's scored three runs in the top of the first thanks to a leadoff home run from Steffes and a two-run single from Heather Nordlund.
This time, the Knights responded on the scoreboard.
Megan Smith and
Adriana Wiggins opened the bottom half of the inning with back-to-back singles. Smith advanced to third on a fly out, she came in to score on a fielder's choice.
The Cardinals tacked on another run in the top of the third, then two more in the sixth to extend the lead to 6-1. But Carleotn would not go quietly. In the bottom half of the sixth, Wiggins singled before Schaffer curved a deep fly ball just inside the right field foul line to put runners on second and third. Sophomore
Grace Colburn knocked a single up the middle to score Wiggins. Then, in a heads up display of baserunning, Colburn forced the Cardinals hand by taking off for second. The move allowed Schaffer enough time to dash for home. The throw was off target as Schaffer slid in safely and the Knights were back within two, though it was as close as they would come. After holding Saint Mary's scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Maize and Blue went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.
Carleton tallied five hits and did not commit an error in the game, leaving just three runners stranded. Wiggins led the way with a pair of singles and Colburn batted in a pair of runs.
Sydney Trentman was tagged with the loss after pitching a complete game. The first-year allowed seven hits and six walks while tacking up five strikeouts.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will be back in action on Saturday when the Knights host Augsburg University for an MIAC doubleheader at Ele Hansen Field. First pitch is set for 1:00pm.
