Game 1 Box Score /
Game 2 Box Score /
GameDay Online
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — It's hard to believe there could be anything disappointing about the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team's performance against Carleton Tuesday afternoon.
But there was.
If you were
Cassie Otte (Randolph, Minn.), that is.
The Cardinals rebounded from a pair of disappointing performances against Saint Benedict on Sunday — in which SMU was swept 5-1 and 10-5 — in convincing fashion Tuesday, rolling to wins of 7-1 and 15-3.
That was the good news.
The bad?
Otte, who entered the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader riding a 27-game hitting streak — dating back to a season-opening, 0-for-3 Game 1 performance against UW-Eau Claire — only to fail to register a hit against the Knights' Emily Maland, as her season-long streak came to a screeching halt with an 0-for-4 effort.
"I feel bad for Cassie — she's been amazing at the plate all season long," said Miller of her junior outfielder, who rebounded from just her second hitless outing of the season by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs in the Cardinals' Game 2 rout. "We certainly put together a better effort today that we did (against Saint Benedict) Sunday.
"We were much more patient at the plate, and it paid off."
The Cardinals got out of the gates quickly in the opener, scoring twice in the first inning and once more in the second, before breaking the game open with three runs in the seventh — highlighted by a two-run single from
Megan Pulvermacher (Richland Center, Wis.).
Katy Gannon (Roselle, Ill.) led the Cardinals' 13-hit Game 1 attack, as the reigning MIAC Player of the Week went 4-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, an RBI and three stolen bases, while
Jenny Giannini (River Grove, Ill.) chipped in three hits in four at-bats.
Gannon & Co. picked up right where they left off in Game 2, as the Cardinals scored their 15 runs on 15 hits — including a 3-for-4 effort from Gannon that included three doubles and four RBIs. Otte also had three hits, while Pulvermacher and
Danielle Geske (Rosemount, Minn.) each had two, and
Kellie Simons (Richfield, Minn.) belted her first collegiate home run.
"I was glad to see us bounce back (from Sunday's losses) the way we did," said Miller, whose Cardinals used a pair of six-run innings in the second and third in cruising to the Game 2 win. "We needed a strong offensive performance like this — with three conference doubleheaders left (Wednesday at Macalester, and home DHs vs. St. Thomas and Gustavus Saturday and Sunday), we need to be sharp.
"Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come."
