WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota fastpitch softball team entered Sunday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against No. 20 St. Thomas looking to do something that hadn't happened in the last 15 contests—beat the Tommies.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Tommies weren't ready for their lengthy winning streak to come for an end, as St. Thomas picked up wins No. 16 and No. 17 in a row—sweeping Saint Mary's 11-0 and 5-1 at the Saint Mary's Field.
 
After being held off the scoreboard in both the first and second innings, the high-powered Tommies kicked their offense in high gear in the opener, scoring two runs in the third, four in the fourth and five more in the fifth en route to the five-inning victory.
 
The Cardinals, meanwhile, struggled to get their offense on track, managing just two hits—a one-out double by Mariah Harper (Schaumburg, Ill.) in the first and a Kathi Opsahl (Elk River, Minn.) two-out single in the fourth.
 
After six straight scoreless innings, the Cardinals finally broke through in the bottom of the second of Game 2, as Ashley Betzold (Farmington, Minn.) belted a lead-off home run to pull the Cardinals even, 1-1.
 
Betzold's bomb, however, would account for the Cardinals' only run—and one of just two hits for the second straight game—as St. Thomas pulled away with single runs in the fifth and sixth, and two more in the seventh to seal the win and the conference sweep.
 
Kali Aldrich (Rochester, Minn.) accounted for the Cardinals' other hit in the nightcap, belting a lead-off single in the fifth.
 
The Cardinals (2-4 MIAC, 13-9 overall) hit the road on Thursday, traveling to Northfield, Minn., for a 3:30 p.m. conference doubleheader against St. Olaf