Cardinals and Warriors with a Jam-Packed Weekend

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The Collegiate diamond was occupied for most of the weekend as both the baseball teams for the Warriors and Cardinals had a double-header and both of the Softball teams had two double-headers. With all of the postponements and cancellations, it’s easy to assume there’s plenty season left. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, as all four of these teams are heading into the home stretch of the regular season. Warrior baseball and softball have eight games to play, while Cardinal baseball has seven and softball with a mere four games to play. With limited opportunities remaining, each game is that much more important for solidifying a spot in post-season play.

Warrior Baseball

Warriors faced Upper Iowa University in a double-header on Sunday, as the Warriors walked away with two victories and a sweep. In the first game, it was Nicolas Herald on the bump, going for the full seven innings he gave up five hits four runs and struck out eight as the Warriors took it 5-4. It wasn’t an easy one, as the Warriors took a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Peacocks tied it up and the Warriors needed some smart baserunning from Mason Trocke to get the winning run in the top of the 7th. Game two was much smoother sailing, as the Warriors batted through the lineup and scored five runs in the top of the 3rd, That inning was enough as it was, but the Warriors tacked on an insurance run in the top of the 7th, depleting a comeback push from the peacocks as the Warriors won 6-4. Warriors improve to 11-19 and jump into 6th place in the NSIC. They conclude the three-game series with Upper Iowa later today at 2:00 p.m. in Fayette.

Warrior Softball

It was senior day for the Warrior softball team on Saturday, as the Warriors celebrated the careers of Kayla Kerkman, Ann Smolenski, Rylee Stout and Liz Pautz. They used the pre-game energy to perfection, putting up a four spot in the bottom of the first frame as the University of Mary Marauders never had a chance. Liz Pautz went nuclear, as usual, striking out 15 batters while only giving up two runs. Pautz garnered strikeouts for 15 of the possible 21 outs in game one as she went the distance (again, as usual). Warriors win game one 7-2. Game two was nothing short of a whomping, as Abby Smith and Emilee Erickson combined to pitch a one hitter as the offense exploded. Scoring six runs in the bottom of the 2nd, two in the bottom of the 3rd and another six in the bottom of the 4th. Warriors only needed five innings to do away with the Marauders, taking the second game 14-0.

The next series was a bit more of a grind as the Warriors took on another top team in the NSIC in Minot State. Pautz took the mound in game one as she struck out six but gave up five runs. Yet it wasn’t enough for the Beavers, as the Warriors capitalized on four fielding errors from Minot and took game one, 7-5. Rylee Stout and Kayla Kerkman both had two hits and an RBI. Game two was another close one, as Abby Smith was locked in from the circle. Smith went all seven innings, striking out three and giving up three. The Warriors were down 3-1 heading into the bottom of the 6th, enter Logan Anderson. The Freshman had already been the lone Warrior to strike for the offense, homering in the 4th inning to open the scoring for the Warriors. In the Bottom of the 6th, she thought she would double-down, scorching one out to deep left for her second of the day as she scored two on one swing and tied it up 3-3. Anderson was needed one last time in the bottom of the 7th, as a bases loaded infield fly rule forced Sam Keller across the plate, Warriors take game two, 4-3. Anderson had hit one homerun on the season coming into this game as she eased Warrior fans, reassuring the future of the team. Warriors improve to 31-11, face Mankato State in Mankato on Tuesday.

Cardinal Baseball

It was a weekend to forget for Cardinal baseball as 2nd placed Gustavus Adolphus dominated in a sweep over the Cardinals. Game one was tough for the Cardinal bats as they only found the open spaces four times to get on base. Gustavus scored all seven runs in three consecutive innings (3rd-5th) as those were plenty to get the victory. A top of the 7th rally from the Cardinals gave them two runs, merely to make the scoreline look a little nicer, Gustavus takes game one 7-2. Game two didn’t go any better as Gustavus struck early in the first inning and again in the fourth, making it a 5-0 hole before the Cardinals could blink. A two-run answer in the top of the fifth from the Cardinals gave the team a smidge of hope, but it was quickly crushed in the bottom of the inning as a Cardinal error led to another run for Gustavus. Gustavus sweep the Cards, winning game two, 8-3. Cardinal Baseball drop to 15-16, host Saint Johns on Wednesday.

Cardinal Softball

Cardinal Softball had two double-headers over the weekend. Facing Augsburg Saturday and Gustavus Adolphus Sunday. Augsburg went as planned as the Cardinals took both from the Auggies. Sarah Kraus was in the circle in game one as a slight hiccup in the first inning motivated her for domination in the next six. Only giving up the one run in the first inning and allowing a mere four hits while striking out seven, Kraus led the Cardinals to a 6-1 victory. Game two took a little bit more work. The Auggies and the Cards combined for five runs in the opening frame as the Cardinals took a 3-2 lead after one. The Auggies tied it up later as the game was tied heading into the bottom of the 6th. A leadoff double from standout Freshman Riley Hall kickstarted the inning for the Cardinals, as she was eventually batted home on a fielder’s choice to first. Cards Sweep the Auggies, win game two 4-3.

Gustavus Adolphus was next on the agenda for Cardinal Softball. Gustavus shot out to an early lead, scoring three in the first two innings, and never looked back. It was a 3-2 game heading into the 6th before the floodgates opened for Gustavus. Scoring two in the 6th and four in the 7th, Gustavus takes game one 9-2. Kraus struggled in game one, giving up 14 hits as all nine runs were earned. Game two, the Cardinals managed to flip the script, scoring six runs in the first two innings to really open things up. The lead barely lasted, as Gustavus came back firing, scoring five in the third and one in the top of the 4th to tie it up at six. That tie ballgame lasted as quickly as it happened, with a four-run bottom of the 4th, the Cardinals were back on top 9-5 and rode the momentum to the final out, outlasting the comeback effort and winning game two, 11-9. Cardinals now sit at 16-14 as they travel to UW-La Crosse on Tuesday.