Game 1 Box Score / Game 2 Box Score

MOORHEAD, Minn. — Talk about a case of bad timing.

Very bad timing.

After scoring 39 runs in their last four games, the Saint Mary's University baseball team could not have picked a worse time to have their offense go into a deep freeze.

Needing a sweep against Concordia Tuesday to keep any hope of a third straight Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament appearance alive, the Cardinals managed just six hits — and one run — as the Cobbers officially knocked SMU out of the post-season picture.

Concordia pitchers Jeremy Hinderks and Isaac Triebold — with relief help Derek Dormann — combined on a two-hit shutout and a six-hit one-runner as the Cobbers blanked dropped the Cardinals 4-0 and 6-1.

Hinderks was in complete control in the opener, allowing just a first-inning single by Rob Kimlinger (Lake Elmo, Minn.) and a third-inning single by Ryan Majerus (St. Charles, Minn.), while three and striking out four.

The Cobbers, meanwhile, scored single runs in first and second innings off SMU starter Aric Kittelson (Prescott, Wis.), then tagged reliever Rob Hollnagel (La Crosse, Wis.) for two runs in the bottom of the sixth to ice the win — and earn themselves a spot in the four-team MIAC Tournament.

The Cardinals doubled their hit production in the nightcap — unfortunately jumping from two hits to four isn't anything to write home about.

In fact, SMU's lone came without the benefit of one of those hits.

After having their scoreless string against the Cobbers reach nine, SMU finally got on the board in the third, as Majerus and Tony Cicalello (St. Paul, Minn.) each reached on errors — giving the Cardinals runners on first and third with one out — and Majerus scored on a sacrifice fly by Kimlinger.

Concordia scored twice in the first, padded its lead to 4-1 with single runs in the second and third, then closed out the scoring with two more in the sixth.

The losses snap SMU's season-high five-game winning streak, and drop the Cardinals to 10-10 in the MIAC and 15-15 overall. Concordia, meanwhile, improves to 14-4 in the conference and 23-13-1 overall.