Game 1 Box Score / Game 2 Box Score

WINONA, Minn. — Jill Hocking (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Jennifer Miller (Winona, Minn.) each collected four hits and Hocking and Jennifer Gonerka (St. Paul, Minn.) both tossed complete-games as the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team swept a nonconference doubleheader from UW-Eau Claire Friday afternoon, winning the first game 6-3 and the second 9-1 in six innings.

Hocking and Miller both went 2-for-3 in Game 1, while Gina Rizzardi (Woodbury, Minn.) and Jackie Huegel (Alta Vista, Iowa) each drove in two runs as the Cardinals, ranked No. 1 in the latest NFCA Top 25 poll, rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the 11th-ranked Blugolds.

After spotting UW-Eau Claire (10-6) a three-run lead, the Cardinals erupted for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Rizzardi laced a two-run, bases-loaded double and Huegel followed up with a two-run single. SMU added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Jennifer Meyer (Oconomowoc, Wis.) and an RBI single by Hocking. On the mound, Hocking surrendered two hits in both the first and sixth innings, but was untouchable the rest of the way, finishing with five strikeouts en route to the complete-game four-hitter.

The Cardinals' bats continued to sizzle in the nightcap, as they scored four times in the bottom of the first and never looked back en route to their third straight win — all against nationally ranked opponents.

Miller and Hocking again went 2-for-3, with Huegel and Amy Langer (Savage, Minn.) also chipping in two hits apiece. Rizzardi and Huegel finished with their second-straight 2 RBI efforts and Annie Hovde (Cottage Grove, Minn.) also drove in two with a pinch-hit, sixth-inning double.

Gonerka went the distance for her fifth win of the season, striking out one while not walking a batter.