WINONA, Minn. — Saturday afternoon's first game of its doubleheader against Hamline proved to be a marathon, rather than a sprint, for the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team.
 
After all, it has been said, "Better late than never."
 
After surrendering three runs in the first two innings, the Cardinals kicked their offense into gear over the game's final five innings, erupting for eight runs en route to an 8-3 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Hamline at the Saint Mary's Field.
 
The break between games did not seem to affect the Cardinals in who posted their second straight 8-3 victory to earn the doubleheader sweep.
 
The Pipers struck quickly in the opener, scoring twice in their first at-bat and adding another run in their second for a 3-0 advantage.
 
From there, however, It was all Saint Mary's — thanks in large part to Amber Chow (West St. Paul, Minn.).
 
Chow came on in relief of starter Cassie Sutor (Chicago, Ill.) in the top of the third, and over the final five innings, the hard-throwing senior blanked HU on one hit, while not walking a batter and striking out six.
 
Chow did her part at the plate, as well, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Justine Schultz (Winona, Minn.) was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while Jordan Meyers (Eyota, Minn.) and Tara Nikolich (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in two hits and Sutor drove in three runs.
 
The Cardinals cut the Game 1 deficit to 3-2 with two runs in the third, before taking the lead for good with four more in the fourth. Saint Mary's added its second two-run inning of the game in the sixth to ice the victory.
 
 Saint Mary's was not about to play catch-up in the nightcap, scoring twice in the bottom of the second inning and adding a third run in the third — on Sutor's first collegiate home run — to grab a 3-0 lead.
 
The fourth inning once again proved to be the Cardinals' money inning, as Saint Mary's scored four times in the fourth for the second straight game to push its advantage to 7-2. HU would plate a solo run in the fifth and Saint Mary's would answer with one in the sixth to round out the scoring.
 
Schultz went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in Game 2, while Chow, Sutor, and Paige Gudmundson (Plainview, Minn.) also had two hits to pace the Cardinals' 11-hit offensive attack. Chow surrendered three runs — only one of which was earned — on five hits, while walking three and striking out three.
 
The Cardinals (2-2 MIAC, 5-11 overall) are back in action on Sunday, heading to the Macalester Softball Complex in St. Paul, Minn., for a 1 p.m. conference doubleheader against the Scots.