TUCSON, Ariz. – Opening weekend is complete for the Saint Mary's baseball program (2-1) after taking the series sweep in warmer weather 2-1 over Luther College (1-2).

GAME ONE

SMU 3, LC 5

The game opened up with fireworks coming off a RBI single from Senior Reese Berg to open up the scoring for the Cardinals, taking the lead 1-0.

On the mound, the Cardinals opened up with right-hander Connor Tulley who gave up five hits and earned two strikeouts.

Later on in the bottom of the first inning, the Norse evened up the game 1-1 off an RBI single before gaining a bigger lead in the third. It became 4-1 after a lead off a two run home run silenced the Cardinals. 

Tulley was helped on the mound by juniors, Maddox Cejka and Kasey Carlson who combined for four innings of one run, combining for six strikeouts.

The Cardinals were able to fight back later in the seventh inning when senior shortstop Josh Costello roped a ball to third base, causing an error, and scoring third baseman Daniel Sherman, making the score 2-5 Luther. Another run was added in the top of the eighth inning when junior catcher Sam Knickerbocker came up with the bases loaded and drew a walk, scoring senior designated hitter Stephen Golden, making the score 3-5. 

The Cardinals would fall short in this game, losing by a score of 3-5, and dropping to 0-1 in the three game series.

GAME TWO

SMU 11, LU 8

Coming off a loss in game one of the series, the Cardinals arrived at Kino Stadium hungry for their first win of the season, and if there's one thing the Cardinals have, it's fight.

Game two was the opposite of game one. The first inning was dominated by the Norse, as they tallied four runs off of four hits. The Cardinals were able to plate one run in the bottom of the first inning off a RBI single from Berg scoring senior left fielder Gavan Schulte making the score 4-1 Luther.

Drew Rothenberger got the ball for the Cardinals in game two of the series, but was shortly relieved by utility man Brady Patten, who went three strong innings, striking out two and giving up zero runs. From the fifth inning on, the Cardinals used a combination of three senior pitchers. Andrew Milner, Patrick Schork, and Mason Windschitl got the call in that order to seal the last five innings of play. 

The Cardinals scoring barrage began with two runs in the second inning. 

First, Sherman took matters into his own hands, scoring on a wild pitch from third base to make it a two run game. Later on in the second inning, Schulte doubled to score Costello narrowing the score to 3-4 and then the Cardinals took the lead in the fourth inning off a throwing error, scoring two runs and making the score 5-4. 

From there, the Cardinals extended the lead in the sixth and seventh innings off of RBI hits from senior DH Golden and junior right fielder Jack Anderson.

The Norse put up three runs in the eighth inning to inch towards the lead making the score 9-7 Cardinals.

The Cardinals answered back in the bottom of the eighth with a two run single from Ryan Csida extending the lead 11-7.

The Norse were able to scrape one more run in by in the top of the ninth inning, but the Cardinals ultimately slammed the door courtesy of a save by Windschitl. 

GAME THREE

SMU 6, LC 5

In the rubbermatch of the three-game opening series against Luther, the Cardinals laid it all on the line to secure the win.

Right-hander Eric Stomberg took the hill for the final game of the series, producing four quality innings of work, tallying zero runs, two hits, and two strikeouts. He was later relieved by righty Carlson and senior Eric Charest, who combined for five innings of pitching that ultimately finished the game. 

The Cardinals put the foot on the gas early, scoring four runs in the second inning off of a hit from Sherman, who later scored on a passed ball, and RBIs from shortstop Costello and left fielder Schulte who crushed a triple to the left-center gap. 

The Cardinals put pressure on the Norse early, taking a 4-0 lead after two innings of play.

Later in the top of the sixth inning, Anderson hit a double to left field, scoring Knickerbocker and Berg, making the score 6-0 SMU.

Luther did not quit, however, scoring five runs across the seventh and eighth innings to make things interesting.

Veteran Charest was able to slam the door on Luther's comeback by completing an eight out save, ending the game 6-5 and capping the series victory in Arizona.

The Cardinals have a break in the action this week, but are set to face Trine College down in Florida on Sunday, March 1 for a doubleheader with the first pitch set for 11:30 a.m.