ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – It was just not the No. 3 Saint Mary's softball team's (31-5, 16-2 MIAC) day. The Cardinals battled to ultimately be swept by conference leaders Saint Benedict (25-9, 15-1 MIAC) on Saturday afternoon, 11-3 and 10-2.
GAME ONE (6-INNIGNS)
CSB 11, SMU 3
What looked to be a promising start, the Cardinals 10 hits could only amount to three runs scored.
The Cardinals jumped out on the board right away in the top of the first as Peyton Berg's single sent Makayla Steffes home for the 1-0 lead. It was the bottom of the first inning that seemed like the Bennies could hit every pitch and found every hole for an explosive four-run innings and 4-1 lead.
The Bennies tacked on another run in the second and had yet another explosive four-run inning in the four as the Cardinals still had no answer, trailing 9-2.
The Cardinals added a final run in the top of the fifth highlighted by a standing triple by Amanda Teschky sending Naleyah Bork to score.Â
There was just no answer in the slippery conditions.
GAME TWO
CSB 10, SMU 2
It looked as if the Cardinals were off to yet another hot start tacking on a run in the first inning, sparked by a sacrifice fly from Megan McGinnis sending Alexandra Gerber home.
The Bennies jumped back, adding two at the bottom of the second to take the 2-1 early lead. It was a heartbreaking second inning where the team gave up five runs in the bottom of the second falling 7-1 after two.Â
The game started to look very familiar to the first game.
The duo of Gerber and McGinnis added a solo run in the third but that one run was not enough as the Cardinals only finished with three hits compared to the 10 hits by the Bennies to be swept in the series.Â
It was all Bennies today, but the team still has plenty of season left to turn it around.
The Cardinals will be back in action at Bethel tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.
