The #7 nationally ranked and regional host Cardinals of Saint Mary’s University (Minnesota) scored four times in the fifth inning to extend their win streak to 30 with a 5-2 victory over Husson in a first round game of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament at SMU Field in Winona, Minnesota on Thursday.
After falling behind 1-0, the Eagles took a lead for the only time on the afternoon in the third inning on an RBI single by Bulla McCabe and an RBI double from Julia Gregiore (Massabesic). The Cardinals took over in the fifth helped by a walk, an error, a squeeze play that tied it, and four hits including the go-ahead RBI single by Megan McGinnis to rightfield. Starting SMU pitcher Makayla Steffes helped herself and capped off the decisive frame with a two-run single to end the scoring.
McCabe and Lydia Rice (Winthrop) had two hits each in the loss for Husson. Sky Johnson (14-4) suffered the defeat in the circle allowing five runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout in 6.0 innings. Steffes (19-2) fired a complete game for Saint Mary’s giving up two runs on eight hits with no walks and six strikeouts, while also adding a key two-run hit. The Cardinals are now 40-3 on the season and will take on Simpson College Friday in a winners bracket game. The Eagles (27-11) will battle DePauw University (24-14) in an elimination contest also on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
