| The Cardinals played just 10 games before COVID-19 put an end to their 2020 season. Saint Mary's went 6-4 during that 10-game run — with all 10 games played in Auburndale, Fla. … The Cardinals closed out that 2020 spring trip with three straight wins — sweeping Muhlenberg (3-2, 5-2) and beating Rhode Island (9-8). … Justin Weinberg (Eagan, Minn.) closed out the spring trip hitting a team-best .526, while also leading the team in at-bats (38), hits (20), home runs (2), RBIs (8), total bases (30), slugging percentage (.789), and on-base percentage (.538). … Weinberg was one of six Cardinals to hit above .300 in SMU's 10 games in 2020, being joined by Kodey Kiel (Owatonna, Minn. / .429), Andy Tepp (Stevens Point, Wis. / .375), Matthew Piechowski (Hutchinson, Minn. / .361), Tyler O'Brien (Belle Plaine, Minn. / .346), and Trevon VanEgtern (La Crosse, Wis. / .300). … Piechowski scored a team-high 14 runs in 10 games a year ago, while also belting three of the team's six triples. … Weinberg delivered both of Saint Mary's 2020 home runs — launching a two-run shot in Game 2 against Widener on the first day of the trip on March 1 and adding another two-run blast against Rhode Island on the final day of the trip on March 8. … Isaac Blum (Verona, Wis.), Bob Tilot (Pulaski, Wis.), and VanEgtern all picked up their first collegiate hits during the Cardinals' 10-game 2020 season. … Weinberg had seven multiple-hit performances through 10 games, two more than Piechowski. … Weinberg and Kiel each recorded a four-hit game last season — both against St. John Fisher on March 3. It was Weinberg's second career-high four-hit game, and the first of Kiel's collegiate career. … Ryan Wolfe (Wabasha, Minn.) tossed a team-best 12.1 innings a year ago, going 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA in two starts, while James Green — the reigning MIAC Pitcher of the Year and Second-Team All-American — hurled 12.0 innings, posting a 1-1 record and a 3.75 ERA. … Kiel owned the team's two saves, allowing just two hits — and no earned runs — in three appearances. … Wolfe boasted a team-leading 11 strikeouts, one more than both Green and Joe Bauer (Pine Island, Minn. / 2-0, 3.52 ERA). … Green tossed the Cardinals' lone complete game last season, allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out a team- and season-high nine in Saint Mary's 3-2 win over Ohio Northern on March 7. … Saint Mary's collected 17 hits — all singles — in its 11-4 win over No. 14 St. John Fisher on March 3. … Four of Saint Mary's 10 games were decided by one run — with the Cardinals a perfect 4-0 in those contests. … The Cardinals went 5-1 when leading after the sixth inning, but were just 1-3 when tied or trailing heading to the seventh. … Saint Mary's 11-4 win over No. 14 St. John Fisher on March 3 was the 200th career coaching victory for Cardinal head coach Nick Winecke. |
The Saints enter their season-opening nonconference doubleheader against Saint Mary's having played just nine games — going 4-4-1 — before the pandemic shut down the 2020 season. … Mitchell Olson led the Saints' offense during the shortened 2020 season, hitting a team-best .464, while also owning team-highs in hits (13), RBIs (10), total bases (19), and slugging percentage (.679). … St. Scholastica boasted four players who hit above .300 a year ago. Joining Olson were Mitchell Novak (.391), Joey Zwak (.324), and Zach Harding (.313). … Zwak finished the year as the team-leader in at-bats (34) and runs (10), while sharing the team lead in doubles (2) and home runs (1). … Olson closed out the year with four multiple-hit games in the Saints' nine contests, while Eric Pearson closed out 2020 with three multiple-RBI contests. … Novak reached base safely in all nine games a year ago. … St. Scholastica had four pitchers who logged 10 or more innings a year ago, led by Matt Tautges (1-1, 4.72 ERA), who threw 13.1 innings in five appearances. … Jerry Gooley (1-0, 7.36 ERA) was closed behind with 11.0 IP, followed by T.J. Martin (0-2, 4.22 ERA) and Jake Sande (0-1, 7.84 ERA) with 10.2 and 10.1 IP, respectively. … Martin and Gooley led the Saints' pitching staff with nine strikeouts each, while Tautges picked up both of CSS's saves. … The Saints finished the year 3-1-1 when scoring in the first inning, while going 1-3-1 when their opponent plated a run in the first inning. … St. Scholastica was held to four runs or less in all four of their losses a year ago, while scoring five or more runs in all four of its wins — including a season-high 11-run showing in beating Husson 11-9 on March 10.
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