CLERMONT, Fla. — When the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota fastpitch softball team took to the field on Wednesday, the Cardinals had never faced its first two spring trip opponents—Lyndon State and Johnson State.
And nine innings later, it's a pretty safe bet that Lyndon State and Johnson State won't be too eager to face the Cardinals again any time soon.
The Cardinals erupted for 17 runs in its season-opener against Lyndon State en route to a lopsided, 17-1 four-inning victory. And the Cardinals picked up right where they left off later in the day against Johnson State, rolling to a 14-2 five-inning triumph.
Saint Mary's, leading 6-2 after three innings against Lyndon State, erupted for a11 runs in the fourth inning and took advantage of eight Hornets' errors in coasting to the victory.
Mariah Harper (Schaumburg, Ill.),
Kali Aldrich (Rochester, Minn.),
Allie Borawski (Stickney, Ill.), and
Ashley Betzold (Farmington Minn.) all delivered two hits—with Betzold and Borawski driving in a pair of runs.
Along with her performance at the plate, Betzold also hurled all four innings in the pitcher's circle, limiting Lyndon State to just a second inning bunt single. The Hornets scored their only run off the Cardinal junior in the third, taking advantage of two walks and a pair of Betzold wild pitches.
Saint Mary's utilized another big inning to put away Johnson State in its second game, as the Cardinals scored nine times in the first inning—while adding single runs in the second and third, and three more in the fourth.
Stanzy Snyder (Johnston, Iowa) went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, and Betzold, Aldrich, Harper, and
Kathi Opsahl (Elk River, Minn.) all chipped in two hits. Opsahl also drove in a team-high four runs, with Harper finishing with 3 RBIs.
Abbey Killian (Fountain City, Wis.) picked up the pitching win, allowing just two runs—one earned—on six hits in five innings. The sophomore walked two and struck out four.
The Cardinals (2-0 overall) are back in action on Thursday, squaring off against Houghton (9 a.m.) and Johnson State (11 a.m.) in a pair of nonconference games.
