WINONA, Minn. — Through the first six innings of their nine-inning nonconference game, the Saint Mary's University and Luther baseball teams combined for 17 hits — and one run.
 
In fact, through the entire nine-inning game, Saint Mary's would only score in one inning.
 
Fortunately for the Cardinals, that one inning was a big one, as Saint Mary's erupted for six runs on six hits in the bottom of the seventh, erasing a 1-0 deficit and cruising to a 6-1 victory at Max Molock Field.
 
Luther scored the game's first run in the top of the second off Cardinal starter Ryan Wolfe (Wabasha, Minn.), tagging the right-hander for one run on four hits.
 
The Norse would make that one-run lead stand up, and it wasn't due to lack of chances for the Cardinals, who put runners on five in five of the first six innings – only to strand all six runners on base.
 
And then came the seventh — and what a seventh it proved to be for Saint Mary's.
 
Liam Belleveau (Middleton, Wis.) led off the Cardinals' seventh with a pinch-hit single, and gave way to pinch-runner Mason Palmer (Holmen, Wis.), who advanced to second on a passed ball and was sacrificed to third by Joey Costello (Victoria, Minn.).
 
Bob Tilot (Pulaski, Wis.) delivered a run-scoring, pinch-hit single to plate Palmer, and knot the game at 1-1. A Tyler O'Brien (Belle Plaine, Minn.) single and a walk to Taylor Anderson (Waukesha, Wis.) loaded the bases for Justin Weinberg (Eagan, Minn.), who laced a run-scoring single to give Saint Mary's the lead for good, 2-1.
 
But the Cardinals weren't finished, as Will Matthews (Geneva, Ill.) belted a two-run double to right, and Cameron Weber (Holmen, Wis.) added a two-run single up the middle to plate the fifth and sixth runs of the inning.
 
And six runs was more than enough, as the Cardinals picked up their fifth win in six tries this season.
 
Matthews, Weinberg, and Andy Tepp (Stevens Point, Wis.) each delivered two hits to pace the Cardinals' 11-hit offensive attack, while Addison Hochevar (Lake Geneva, Wis.) earned the pitching win with 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief — including a key strikeout with the bases loaded to end the top of the seventh.
 
Saint Mary's (5-1 overall) kick off Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play next Saturday, hosting Gustavus in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Max Molock Field.