Box Score 1 Coe Box Score | U of Pittsburgh-Bradford Box

TUCSON, Ariz. — A suicide bunt by Katy Gannon (Roselle, Ill.) and a grand slam by Paige Carter (Rosemount, Minn.) in the 10th inning lifted the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team to a 9-5 win over the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford Monday night.

It was the nightcap of SMU's second day at the Tucson Invitational Games. In the first game, the Cardinals fell 14-1 to No. 24-ranked Coe College.

“The game against Bradford was a good game,” SMU coach Jen Miller said. “We weren't picking very good pitches to swing at early on but we kept battling and got some big hits when we needed them.”

The game was tied 3-3 after seven and went to the international tiebreaker. Both teams scored a run in the ninth to make in 4-4. In the 10th, Hailey Ohl(Bloomington, Minn.) started on second base because of the tiebreaker and Erin Stenseth (Eau Claire, Wis.) bunted her to third. Gannon's suicide bunt single scored Ohl for the winning run.

Kellie Simons (Richfield, Minn.) kept things going with a single and Mal Betzold (Farmington, Minn.) was walked. Carter then stepped to the plate and hit a grand slam to put SMU ahead 9-4.

The Cardinals were working for outs in the bottom of the 10th and allowed one run to score.

Betzold went the distance on the mound, allowing 10 hits, striking out seven and walking none. Betzold, Ohl, Carter and Mangan all had two hits each.

“It was a great win and a really good learning experience for us,” Miller said.

Game 1 was also a good learning experience, even though the Cardinals were beat 14-1.

“Coe is a very good team and they are ranked for a reason,” Miller said. “Their top pitcher is probably one of the best pitchers we'll face all season. It was good for us to see top quality pitching on this trip.”

Ashlee Simon threw four innings against SMU and allowed just one hit – a single by Ohl — and struck out 10. She was relieved by Micah Nardini in the fifth inning. Nardini gave up singles to Simons and pinch hitters Laura Ramboldt (Goodhue, Minn.) and Anna Buege (Winona, Minn.).

Angie Bates (Roselle, Ill.) was tagged with the loss on the mound. She threw 1 2/3 innings before being relieved by Kayla Peterson (Lewiston, Minn.)

SMU (1-2) plays again at 6 p.m. (MST) and 8 p.m. Tuesday.