ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The No. 3 Saint Mary's softball team (33-5, 18-2 MIAC) got back on track Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals shutout the Bethel Royals (14-22, 9-9 MIAC) across their series, winning 6-0 and 8-0 over five-innings.
GAME ONE
SMU 6, BU 0
Although it was a team effort, you cannot help but mention Megan McGinnis's play at the plate in the dominant game one victory, 6-0. She went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and blasted two homeruns, her first multiple homerun game of her career, to lift the Cardinals past the Royals.
The Cardinals poured in three runs in the top of the second inning to take the early lead. The inning got started with McGinnis slamming a solo home run which lead to Erin Parker and Amanda Teschky crossing home plate.
At the top of the third inning, the Cardinals added two more runs while keeping the Royals scoreless. A single by Peyton Berg set McGinnis up for yet another slam for a two run homerun.
In the seventh, McGinnis hit for a single before stealing third. She was brought home by Teschky to move the Cardinals to their final score 6-0.
The Cardinals put up 13 hits and kept a clean sheet. Makayla Steffes was a professional at the mound, picking up her 17th win of the season. She posted a season best 10 strikeouts on the day.
GAME TWO
SMU 8, BU 0
The Cardinals kept their momentum going in game two for another shutout.Â
The team tacked on four runs to open the game. Again, McGinnis was stellar. She got the leadoff single before stealing second and then third base. Alexandra Gerber earned the RBI single to put her team on the board. Steffes sent Gerber home before Berg came up to the plate to send Steffes home for the early momentum.
It was not again till the top of the fourth that the Cardinals added four more to their tally.
Two errors put Brianna Nusbaum at third before Abbie Stigler's double sent her home. Two stolen bases added two runs to the board and timely base running earned the early exit for the Cardinals 8-0 win.
Kenzie Gatz pitched her seventh shutout of the season and her 15th win while striking out five.
The Cardinals currently sit in second in the conference ahead of their final regular season game of the season at Macalester on Friday, May 1 starting at 4:00 p.m.
