Game 1 Box Score /. Game 2 Box Score

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — When the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team dropped the second game of its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader to St. Catherine on Thursday, it meant one thing to the Cardinals — they were going to need a little outside help in their quest for a second straight league crown.

Trailing league-leading St. Thomas by three games meant not only did SMU need to win its remaining eight MIAC games, but the Tommies had to drop at least one other game along the way.

That much, however, the Cardinals could not control. What they could control, is making sure to do their part by winning eight straight.

And they got off one the right foot on Friday, blanking St. Benedict 3-0 and 4-0.

"We played very well," said SMU coach Nikki Fennern. "Our backs are to the wall and we know that. We know we've got to win all of our remaining games and then get a little help. But our main concern is taking care of what we can control — and that's winning our remaining games."

Stacy O'Malley (Lake Elmo, Minn.) picked up the pitching wins in both games, allowing just five hits, while striking out seven in six innings of work in the opener, then throwing three innings of one-hit ball in the nightcap. Lindsay Mamer (Mankato, Minn.) picked up the save in the opener, while Jennifer Gonerka (St. Paul, Minn.) went four innings and allowed three hits in earning the save in the second game.

Offensively, the Cardinals were led by Mamer and Jackie Huegel (Alta Vista, Iowa), who combined to collect eight of SMU's 16 hits. Huegel went 2-for-4 in the opener, and followed that up with a 2-for-3, 2 RBI effort in Game 2. Mamer, meanwhile, went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Game 1, then went 3-for-4 and scored once in Game 2. Mamer, Ann Munzenmaier (Urbandale, Iowa) and Amy Langer (Savage, Minn.) drove in SMU's three runs in the first game, while Huegel and Annie Hovde (Cottage Grove, Minn.) each drove in a pair of runs in the second game.