Game 1 Box Score / Game 2 Box Score

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team kicked off its season in a big way Saturday evening.

A very big way.

The Cardinals erupted for seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in routing North Central (Minn.) 29-0 and 14-1 in their nonconference doubleheader in the Rosemount Dome.


“We swung the bats pretty well,” understated SMU coach Jen Miller, whose team banged out 29 hits in the opening-game win, then added 10 hits in Game 2. “It's nice to get those first two wins under our belt, and, hopefully, we can just pick up right where we left off (Sunday in their nonconference twinbill against Buena Vista).”

Kellie Simons (Richfield, Minn.), Mal Betzold (Farmington, Minn.) and Angie Dierks (Red Wing, Minn.) all banged out four hits in the opener against North Central, with Simons adding a home run, three runs and three RBIs, while Diercks collected a career-best six RBIs and Betzold laced a double and drove in three runs. Katy Gannon (Roselle, Ill.) was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Jessica Sharpe (Ottawa, Ill.) was 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

SMU scored in eight of the nine innings they batted in the two games, plating seven, four, 15 and three runs in the opener, while scoring three, eight, two and one runs in Game 2.

The Cardinals launched three home runs to fuel their 10-hit Game 2 attack, as Danielle Geske (Rosemount, Minn.), Jaci Prodzinski (Ettrick, Wis.) and Joanna Mangan (Chicago, Ill.) belted round-trippers, while Cassie Otte (Randolph, Minn.), Gannon and Nicole Olson (New Brighton, Minn.) all finished with two hits each.

“It was a good start to the season,” Miller said. “We know the competition is only going to get tougher, but it's nice to get things off on a positive note.”