CLERMONT, Fla. —
Sarah Kraus (Onalaska, Wis.) did her part for the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team in the Cardinals' nonconference game against the University of Dubuque Tuesday, limiting the Spartans to just four runs on seven hits.
Problem was, while Kraus was silencing the Spartans' bats, UD hurler Kalya Bruening was doing the Cardinal freshman one better, holding Saint Mary's to just four hits — and a pair of seventh-inning runs — as Dubuque dealt SMU a 4-2 nonconference setback at Lake Myrtle Park.
Dubuque jumped out to an early lead, scoring a solo run on two hits off Kraus in the top of the second inning. Saint Mary's threatened in its half of the frame, getting singles from
Sophie Cave (Maplewood, Minn.) and
Cassie Sutor (Chicago, Ill.), but were unable to scratch across a run.
The Spartans pushed their lead to 4-0 with a three-hit, three-run fifth inning, and appeared to be on their way to their first shutout of the season, only to have Saint Mary's make things interesting in its final at-bat.
The Cardinals loaded the bases with one out.
Allison Ciero (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) platted SMU's first round on a ground out to second.
Riley Hall (Dallas Center, Iowa ) delivered a run-scoring single to plate
Lizzy Baird (Wells, Minn.), but Bruening wiggled out of the jam with a game-ending strikeout.
Hall, Cave, Sutor, and
Erin Sullivan (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) accounted for Saint Mary's four hits. Kraus did not walk a batter In posting her second career complete game, while striking out five for the third consecutive games.
The Cardinals (2-3 overall) are right back in action on Tuesday, squaring off against Milwaukee School of Engineering in a 5:15 p.m. EST nonconference contest.
