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TUCSON, Ariz. — After playing 23 innings in their last two games combined, the Saint Mary's University baseball team was determined not to have to put in any overtime in its nonconference doubleheader against Illinois Institute of Technology Friday.

Fueled by nine extra-base hits — including their first home run of the season in the sixth inning — the Cardinals handed the Hawks a 12-4 setback in the opener, then completed the sweep with a 15-4 victory in Game 2.

“We swung the bats pretty well, which was good to see,” said SMU coach Nick Winecke, whose team has now won six straight to improve to 6-2 on their week-long spring trip. “Our pitching was solid and defensively I thought we did a nice job.

“The conditions weren't the best (cool and windy), but the guys didn't let it affect their approach to the game.”

The well-rested Cardinals, who have been off since beating Iowa Wesleyan 4-3 in 11 innings and Simpson 8-7 in 12 on Wednesday, didn't wasted any time flexing their muscles in Game 1 against IIT Friday, getting an RBI single from Paul LaNasa (Mahtomedi, Minn.) in the top of the first, before putting together a two-run second that was highlighted by triples off the bats of LaNasa and Steph Scatassa (Westchester, Ill.).

A two-run single by Kyle Servais (Westby, Wis.) in the third pushed SMU's lead to 5-1, but the Hawks answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to claw to within one, 5-4.

That, however, would as close as SMU would let ITT get, as the Cardinals scored three times in the fourth — on four straight doubles from Kevin Gannon (Roselle, Ill.), Jon Schlemmer (De Pere, Wis.), Vince Lulic (Mendota Heights, Minn.) and Servais — before sealing the win with a four-run sixth that was highlighted by Schlemmer's lead-off home run to left-center and a two-run double by Mike Feriancek.

All told, the Cardinals battered two ITT pitchers for 18 runs — including six doubles, two triples and Schlemmer's home run. La Nasa, Gannon, Schlemmer and Lulic fueled that 18-hit attack, with all four collected three hits.

Sean Minder (Roseville, Minn.) picked up the pitching win, tossing his first collegiate complete game. The senior left-hander scattered nine hits — seven coming in the first three innings — while walking one and striking out one.

And it was more of the same in the nightcap, as SMU scored at least one run in every inning — opening with a three-run first, adding four in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Gannon fueled the Cardinals' Game 2 attack, going 3-for-4 with six RBIs, while Willie Doll (Amherst, Wis.) was 2-for-3, scored four runs and belted his first collegiate home run — a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning.

Jake Merkle (Mahtomedi, Minn.) picked up the pitching win in the second game, allowing three runs on six hits in five innings of work — despite battling a bad case of food poisoning. Jake Dawson (North St. Paul, Minn.) pitched the final two innings, surrendering one run on two hits.

The Cardinals close out their spring trip on Saturday, taking on Marian and Concordia-Chicago in a pair of nine-inning nonconference contests.