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CLERMONT, Fla. — Lebanon Valley entered Monday's nonconference game against the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team ranked No. 16 in the NFCA preseason poll.

And the Dutchmen — coming off their best season in program history a year ago — lived up to their billing, as Lebanon Valley used a pair of three-run innings to knock off the Cardinals 7-3.

"I thought we held out own against a nationally ranked team — and I'm pleased with that," said SMU coach Jen Miller. "But we have to tighten up our defense."

Lebanon Valley scored three runs in its first at-bat against SMU starting pitcher Emily Nelson (Maplewood, Minn.), highlighted by a two-run triple off the bat of Sam Derr.

Nelson helped her own cause in the third, lacing an RBI single to cut the Dutchmen lead to two, 3-1, and the Cardinals knotted the game at 3-3 in the fifth — thanks to a two-run double by Kathi Opsahl (Elk River, Minn.).

The Dutchmen, however, regained the lead with a single run in the bottom of the fifth, then iced the victory with three runs in the sixth.

Opsahl went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs to pace SMU's 11-hit attack, while Nelson and Kristen Thelen (Rochester, Minn.) each chipped in two hits.

The Cardinals (2-3 overall) are back in action Monday afternoon, squaring off against Widener University at 1 p.m. (EST).