St. Benedict 13, UW-Stout 4 (6 inn) |
UW-Stout 6, St. Benedict 5
ST. JOSEPH, Minn. (March 21, 2021) - UW-Stout bounced back after losing the first game, 13-4, to win the second game, 6-5, over the College of St. Benedict, but Blue Devil pitcher
Melea Bruns had to dig deep and work hard to gain the win Sunday.
The Blue Devils (3-5) held a 6-2 lead going into the sixth inning, but the Blazers (6-2) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull perilously close when they smashed out two home runs against Bruns.
But the senior would get her revenge in the bottom of the seventh. The Blazers' Katie Carlson lead off with a single, then moved to third on Jordyn Swoboda's double to left field. Bruns forced a fly out to shortstop
Ashley Jacobson and a foul fly to third baseman
Kayli Pfeffer. St. Ben's Tori Harren worked Bruns to a full count, including two deep foul balls to left field before Bruns struck her out and earned her first win of the season.
The Blue Devils opened the game with a three-run first inning.
Kaylee Peterson hit a one-out triple to plate two runs and
Taylor Mancl plated Peterson with a double. The Blazers (6-2scored a single run in the bottom half of the first, but Stout got that run back when
Michala Belter scored. St. Ben's made it 4-2 in the fourth inning. Stout got single runs in the fifth and the sixth innings. Mancl drove in a run in the fifth and Belter scored in the sixth when Jacobson reached on an error.
Bruns scattered 10 hits in going the distance, allowing five earned runs, while striking out three and walking two.
Peterson was 3 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Mancl and
Meghan Kelly were each 2 for 4 with Mancl driving in a pair of runs. The win snapped a five game skid for the Blue Devils.
In the opener, the Blazers jumped out to an 8-0 lead after scoring six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Stout scored in the fourth inning on a sacrifce fly by
Shannon Jones, then added three runs in the sixth inning. Jones drove in two more runs and eventually scored on an error. St. Ben's ended the game in six innings with five runs.
Stout had four hits in the game with Jones, Peterson, Belter and pinch hitter
Jessica Christiansen each getting a hit. Jones finished with three RBI. St. Benedict recorded 15 hits.
Stout is scheduled to play at Luther College, Wednesday, March 24, followed by games at Bethany Lutheran College, Saturday, March 27 and at Crown College, Sunday, March 28.
