CSB softball rises in NCAA DIII standings as playoffs near

The CSB softball team split a doubleheader against Hamline on April 23, winning the second game to move up to second in the MIAC.

The second game was a 13-0 win that consisted of three home runs and a season-high 13 runs from the team. Fifth-year senior Jordyn Swoboba hit her third home run of the season and 19th of her career. Junior Tori Harren also hit a homerun, which is fifth of the season and 14th of her career. The doubleheader was Senior Day, honoring Gabby Spencer, Lexi Hanson, Tiffany Thompson, Elly Novak and Hannah Sudem. The seniors lead the team during the Hamline games, altogether having nine hits with Novak throwing eight strikeouts. This advanced her career strikeouts to 426. First year pitcher Ellie Peterson assisted the team by throwing four shutout innings against Hamline, winning her 10th game. In the past 16 innings she has thrown, she has only allowed one run.

Peterson also won the honor of CSB Athlete of the Week for the first time. In Peterson’s 11 appearances so far this season, in which she is 10-1, she has had eight complete games, 59 strikeouts and three shutouts. Peterson described her season so far as being “so much fun.”

“I didn’t really know what to expect going into my first year of college softball, but I’m having a really great time and am so thankful to be a part of this,” Peterson said.

The Bennies’ recent success at Hamline is a reflection of the effort put in the entire season. The team started their season by competing in 10 games in the Fortune Road Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. They won nine out of the 10 nonconference games.

“Our Florida trip has been one of my favorite parts about this season. I think it really showed us that our team this year can go deep into the postseason,” sophomore Maddie Brey said.

Despite many canceled and postponed games due to weather, the Bennies have maintained a 10-4 conference record. One of Peterson’s highlights of the year is the walk-off win against St. Olaf. Additionally, many members of the team have enjoyed watching Spencer and Novak’s success this season. Spencer raised her batting average to .538 this year, and Novak was named MIAC Pitcher of the Week on March 13. Both athletes have been named MIAC Athlete of the Week over the course of the season. Looking forward, there are many upcoming games the team is excited for. Brey is looking forward to the rescheduled games against St. Kate’s on May 4. The Bennies are tied against them in the conference right now.

“They beat us last year, so I am looking forward to getting some revenge and hopefully get a pair of wins,” Brey said.

Harren is excited to compete against Bethel in the upcoming MIAC tournament because Bethel is a good team and pushes the Bennies to be better. According to Harren, in order to be the best, you need to beat the best. Junior Bryn Carlstrom is happy about how the season has gone so far and is optimistic about the final games leading up to the MIAC tournament.

“We are good at being resilient and bouncing back when things don’t quite go our way. We have a lot of potential and everyone on the team has the talent to make an impact,” Carlstrom said.

The first round of the MIAC Tournament starts on May 11.

“Although we have some work we need to do before we can succeed in that tournament, I am confident with this team. We have a great opportunity to succeed,” Harren said.

The Bennies are back in action on April 28 for a doubleheader at Concordia College in Moorhead.