WINONA, Minn. — In thrilling fashion, the Saint Mary's baseball team (16-9, 4-2 MIAC) completed a sweep of visiting Hamline (9-14, 1-5) on Wednesday, using late-game heroics and lockdown pitching to secure both wins. After escaping back-to-back bases-loaded jams late in game one, the Cardinals carried that momentum into the nightcap to seal the series.
GAME ONE
SMU 1, HAM 0 (10 innings)
The opener turned into a tense pitchers' duel that stretched into extra innings before the Cardinals finally broke through in the 10th. Saint Mary's limited Hamline to just three hits while striking out 12 in a dominant performance on the mound.
Connor Tulley set the tone with seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits while striking out four. Connor Olson was electric in relief, fanning five over two innings while giving up just one hit. Mason Windschitl battled through a high-pressure final frame, striking out three to earn the win.
The game's lone run came in dramatic fashion. After Drew Rothenberger sparked the rally with a double, Eddie Gray reached on a Hamline fielding error that allowed Rothenberger to score the unearned walk-off run.
Saint Mary's had chances earlier, putting runners in scoring position in the first, fifth, and ninth innings, but Hamline's defense kept the game scoreless. The Cardinals' defense matched that effort, highlighted by a pickoff in the second and a caught stealing in the sixth. The biggest moment came in the ninth, when Saint Mary's escaped a bases-loaded jam to force extras before delivering the decisive blow in the 10th.
GAME TWO
SMU 6, HAM 4
Riding the emotional lift from game one, the Cardinals carried their momentum into the second game to complete the sweep.
Saint Mary's totaled eight hits, including three doubles, and held Hamline scoreless over the final four innings to secure the win.
Andrew Milner got the start, tossing three innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Luke Pilot followed with a clean inning in his season debut. Maddox Cejka delivered two strong innings of relief to earn his second win of the season, and Brady Patten shut the door with a scoreless seventh to collect his fourth save.
Offensively, Gavin Schulte led the way with two hits, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Alex Hanneman added a pair of doubles and an RBI, while Ryan Csida chipped in a double and a run driven in.
The Cardinals created separation in the fifth inning with a decisive two-run rally. Schulte worked a leadoff walk before Rothenberger singled, and a Hamline error moved both runners into scoring position. Stephen Golden followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Schulte, and Hanneman delivered an RBI double to bring home Rothenberger and give Saint Mary's the lead for good.
Earlier, the Cardinals struck first in the second inning. Hanneman's leadoff double ignited the rally, and Daniel Sherman moved him to third with a single. Josh Costello's sacrifice bunt brought home the first run, and back-to-back hits from Csida and Schulte helped push the lead to three.
Hamline answered with a three-run third to tie the game at four, but Saint Mary's responded with composure. The pitching staff and defense locked in down the stretch, holding the Pipers scoreless the rest of the way to secure the sweep.
Saint Mary's returns to action Saturday, April 11, hosting Augsburg for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader as part of Alumni Day and a special recognition of Ed Servais.
