Box Score

WINONA, Minn. — This was one game Saint Mary's University baseball coach Nick Whaley probably wishes was nothing more than an April Fool's joke.

Problem was, it was March 31 — and Winona State wasn't fooling around.

The Warriors erupted for 12 runs in the third inning — and banged out a school-record 12 doubles — in handing SMU a 23-3 nonconference setback Wednesday afternoon.

After scoring once in the first and twice in the second, Winona State (13-7-1 overall) sent 15 batters to the plate in the third inning, converting three singles, six doubles and four walks into 12 runs — and a commanding 15-0 advantage.

After holding the WSU scoreless in the fourth, the Warriors' bats battered SMU pitching again in the fifth and sixth, scoring five times in the fifth — two on an RBI double by Ben Vazquez, who drove in six runs with his 4-for-5 effort from the lead-off spot — and added three more in the sixth.

Dusty Wilhelmy (Mendota Heights, Minn.) was the bight spot in the Cardinals' offensive lineup, going 2-for-2 with a double, while Nick Winecke (St. Paul, Minn.), Dan Cosgrove (South St. Paul, Minn.) and Jose Rueda (Winona, Minn.) drove in SMU's three runs.