WINONA, Minn. – It was a great day for some baseball games at the iconic Max Molock Field. The Saint Mary's baseball team (21-14, 9-7 MIAC) split the conference series with the Gustavus Adolphus Gusties (16-17, 9-9 MIAC), winning 6-3 and then falling 7-3.

GAME ONE

SMU 6, GAC 3

The Cardinals racked up 10 hits for their six runs at home to open game one. It was all Cardinals, start to finish.

On the mound, Kasey Carlson got the start and the win, his seventh of the year boasting a 7-1 overall record, recording three strikeouts in his five innings pitched. Brady Patten came in at relief to pitch the final two innings for his fifth save of the season.

Reese Berg got the party started with an RBI single that sent Alex Hanneman home to give the Cardinals an early 1-0 advantage after one. 

The Cardinals kept the Gusties scoreless until the fourth to tie the game briefly, but in the bottom of the fourth, the Cardinals exploded.

Dom Najacht hit a standup double before an error sent him home for the lead. It was another double, this time from Colin Nigl brought in Ryan Csida before Josh Costello's RBI single extended the lead 4-1.

The Gusties mounted a small comeback bringing two runs to the plate in the fifth but Saint Mary's added two insurance runs in the sixth to finish the game 6-3 after a sacrifice fly by Costello and a wild pitch that brought in one more run.

GAME TWO

GAC 7, SMU 3

It was a bit of a different story in game two for the Cardinals.

The Gusties got on the board early as a two run homerun in the top of the first kept the Cardinals silent out the gate. 

It was the power of the doubles today that added runs for the Cardinals as a double by Costello brought in Sam Knickerbocker in the bottom of the third to get within one, 2-1. 

The Gusties continued to stretch their lead throughout the game adding one run each of the next three innings and two in the eighth for a commanding 7-2 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

There was a little bit of a spark started as the Cardinals showed no quit. A leadoff double from Najacht and Nigl followed with a single to get energy flowing. Two runs, highlighted by a near homerun from Daniel Sherman, ended the game 7-3 in favor of the Gusties.

The team ended with four doubles in the game but it was not enough as they split the series.

The Cardinals will be back in action tomorrow for their final home games of the season for a special senior day against St. Olaf. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.