DULUTH, Minn. - The Martin Luther College softball team came from behind in game two to earn a split at St. Scholastica in a doubleheader that was moved to Duluth due to unplayable field conditions at MLC. The Knights lost game one 5-3, but won game two 5-2.
The game two win was the first MLC win over CSS since the 2010 season, a stretch that marked 22 straight wins by the Saints in the series.
CSS 5, MLC 3
The Knights were unable to overcome mistakes in a 5-3 game one defeat.
MLC committed three errors that led to three unearned runs in the loss.
Morgan Palubicki (2-7) started the game and pitched the first four innings, allowing all five runs (two earned) on seven hits.
The Knights matched the Saints with seven hits in the game, but left several scoring opportunities on the bases (seven runners left on base in the final four innings).
Kayla Rosenbaum,
Erika Rosenbaum, and
Audrey Timm accounted for the three RBI for the Knights in the game.
Aimee Ashman led the team with two hits.
MLC 5, CSS 2
MLC stormed back from a late two-run deficit to secure the split with a 5-2 win in game two.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Knights exploded for five runs in that frame to take the lead.
Rebecca Doering and
Kayla Rosenbaum reached base to start the inning and scored to tie the game. Ashman drove in
Mykenna Schneiter with a single to give MLC the lead, and then came around to score (along with
Madison Ott) on a CSS error to give the Knights breathing room heading into the seventh inning.
That was more than enough for
Rebecca Pruss (2-7), who came in relief of Palubicki to pitch the final two innings and get the win. Palubicki started the game and pitched the first five innings, allowing two runs on six hits with two strikeouts.
MLC moved to 4-14 on the season and 3-7 in UMAC play with the split. CSS is now 12-11 overall and 6-2 in league play.
The Knights will return to action on Wednesday, April 25, when they play a non-conference game at Minnesota Morris. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
