Wheaton Box | Coe Box

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team used strong defense and solid pitching to get two wins Tuesday at the Tucson Invitational Games. The Cardinals beat Wheaton 4-1 in the opener and then knocked off ranked Coe College 4-2 in the nightcap.

But SMU wasn't able to leave the ballpark without some controversy.

The second game was called because of darkness after the park's lights shut off after 11 p.m. The umpires called it an official game since five complete innings were played but Coe has issued a complaint to the tournament director, who will be checking with NCAA officials Wednesday. After an hour-long meeting Wednesday, the NCAA ruled in SMU's favor, officially awarding the win to the Cardinals.

Coe is currently ranked No. 24 in the latest Division III poll and defeated the Cardinals 14-1 on Monday.

“We had a great day of ball,” SMU Coach Jen Miller said. “We had strong defense and great pitching. We are very happy with how well we played.”

In the first game, the Cardinals were outhit 7-6 by Wheaton but used a strong sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie.
In that frame, Nicole Olson (New Brighton, Minn.) led off with a walk and Kristin Thelen (Rochester, Minn.) went in as a pinch runner. Michelle Carne (Escanaba, Mich.) followed with a walk (Escanaba, Mich.) and Breanna Olson (Byron, Minn.) went in to run for her. Hailey Ohl (Bloomington, Minn.) singled to score Thelen.

Erin Stenseth (Eau Claire, Wis.) walked to load the bases and Katy Gannon (Roselle, Ill.) had a double to score both Breanna Olson and Ohl to put SMU ahead 4-2.

Gannon finished 2-for-4, while Kellie Simons (Richfield, Minn.), Paige Carter (Rosemount, Minn.), Carne and Ohl all added hits. Simons' hit was a solo homer in the third inning.

Mallory Betzold (Farmington, Minn.) was the winning pitcher after relieving Angie Bates (Roselle, Ill.) in the middle of the sixth inning.

Against Coe, the Cardinals were outhit 8-3 but used solid defense and pitching to work out of several jams.
SMU scored first on a solo home run by Carter in the second inning. Coe scored two in the third to take the lead and the Cardinals tied it in the fourth inning at 2-2. In the fifth inning, SMU scored two in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.

Carne reached base on an error and Bre Olson went in to run for her. Ohl followed with a single. After a strikeout, Gannon hit a fielders choice for the second out. Pinch-hitter Anna Buege (Winona, Minn.) walked and Ohl scored on a wild pitch. Betzold then walked and Carter reached on an error while Gannon scored. A fly out ended the inning.

“The team was excited to beat Coe,” Miller said.

Betzold was the winning pitcher. She gave up eight hits, struck out three and walked two in five innings of work.

The Cardinals enter their day off with a 4-1 record. SMU will play Wheaton and the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford on Thursday.