CSB softball team soars in Florida, earns No. 14 spot in Coaches Poll

The CSB softball team has earned themselves the No. 14 spot in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association DIII Top 25 Coaches Poll (March 21) for the second consecutive week following a hot 9-1 record to start the season in Florida.

A lot went well for the Bennies down south. They outscored their opponents a whopping 57 runs to 19 and didn’t allow an opposing runner to score in five out of the 10 games played. At the time, the unranked Bennies bested then-ranked No. 21 Rochester and No. 6 Belhaven to help fuel seven straight wins to end the trip. According to head coach Rachel Click, the team has more depth this year than other teams in the past, with multiple players stepping up and filling important roles on the field.

“Our emotions going into games against ranked teams was that we had to be more intentional with our at-bats, pitch selection and making the defensive plays,” senior pitcher Elly Novak said. “At the end of the day, these ranked teams do the same things we do, and we were not nervous to step up to the challenge of another team that is ranked and at the time we weren’t.”

First-year pitcher Ellie Peterson got the start in the circle against Rochester on March 7 in what was her second collegiate start. Peterson pitched a complete game while allowing only four hits and striking out six batters in the 1-0 win. Junior infielder Megan Rasmussen reached on an error in the fourth inning and drove in the game-winning run. On March 11, in the last game of the trip, Peterson once again got the start in the circle against Belhaven.

“Going into it, I didn’t even know that Rochester was ranked, and for Belhaven, I did know, but I didn’t focus on it. I thought about both as just another game and went in just wanting to win,” Peterson said.

Peterson pitched well, allowing two runs in four innings of work to earn the win. Novak pitched three shutout innings in relief to earn the save.

“Having two solid pitchers with experience is so important in a sport like ours where we play doubleheaders,” Click said. “We have some other pitchers who haven’t had as many opportunities who will give us added depth.”

A fielder’s choice and two errors committed by Belhaven helped the Bennies put up four runs in the second inning en route to their 5-2 victory. First-year infielder Cat Smetana led the Bennies with two hits while four other players each had one apiece, including junior utility player Tiffany Thompson who tallied an RBI and a run.

“I know how much those ranked wins mean, especially when it comes to postseason and selection Monday. We know how much they can determine if we get selected or not,” Thompson said.

CSB ended the season last year with an overall record of 30-10 only the third time in program history the team finished a season with 30 or more wins. A 28-8 record through the MIAC tournament earned the right to host a regional game for the first time, where they eventually had their season come to an end in the region championship game. The Bennies are looking to break out even more this season and extend their season into the NCAA National Tournament in Texas.

“This season especially, it feels as if that goal is really attainable,” Thompson said. “We have all the talent and ability to take our season deep into the postseason.”

The Bennies have four experienced seniors this season: Lexi Hanson, Hannah Sundem, reigning MIAC Player of the Year, Gabby Spencer, Novak and fifth-year Jordyn Swoboda.

“We have a solid senior class of leaders and are lucky to have fifth-year Jordyn Swoboda back, who does a great job leading the team on and off the field and making the first-years feel welcome,” Click said.

There is an equal amount of returning players as there are first-years, but team chemistry is not something the Bennies are having trouble building.

“The upperclassmen have put in a lot of effort to make us feel welcomed and valued on the team,” Peterson said. “ I really look up to all the upperclassmen, as they lead with their work ethic and energy. Specifically, I look up to Elly Novak, as she’s such a great pitcher and teammate.”

Novak loves the energy of the team and strives to keep up morale by supporting the newer players.

“We are a team that never stops cheering for one another. In our dugout, whether we are on offense or defense, we don’t stop talking and cheering,” Novak said. “For the younger pitchers, I really want to be someone they can look up to and someone who will advocate for them.”

On March 13, Thompson and Novak swept the MIAC honors with Thompson earning MIAC Softball Player of the Week and Novak earning her third MIAC honor of Pitcher of the Week. Thompson batted .440 in 10 games played, racking up 11 hits (four doubles) in 25 at-bats with 10 RBI and eight runs scored. Novak went 5-1 in the circle, including three complete games along with the save against Belhaven. In 34.1 innings pitched, Novak struck out 42 batters while only walking five. Since their last game in Florida, the Bennies have not been able to fit in any nonconference games prior to the start of the MIAC regular season due to inclement weather.

“We are doing our best as coaches to mix it up with indoor practices, outdoor practices, scrimmages and fun team activities in hopes of keeping things fun and fresh,” Click said.

Going into MIAC play, the Bennies currently sit in first place and are atop the league in a variety of statistics. CSB has a team earned run average of 1.78 (second in MIAC) and a .205 opponent batting average (first in MIAC). On offense, the Bennies have a .293 average, five home runs, 13 doubles, 80 hits, a .403 slugging percentage and a .374 on-base percentage. In addition, the Bennies have a .985 fielding percentage, leading not only the MIAC but the entire nation.

“I have a lot of confidence in this team and know they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. That being said, when it comes to conference, it’s a wild ride. Any team can show up on any day and give their opponent a run for their money, so it’s all about consistency, showing up every day, no matter who we play,” Click said.

The Bennies are set to kick off conference play with a doubleheader against St. Olaf at home on Saturday, April 1, with game times scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.