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Cardinal Roster
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Cardinal Statistics
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Cardinal Schedule
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MIAC Standings
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MIAC Statistics
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| 2005 Records: 8-12 MIAC, 16-15 Overall |
| Upcoming Events: Fri., Feb. 24: SMU at Christian Brothers U., Memphis, ,Tenn., 1 p.m. Sat., Feb. 24: SMU at Christian Brothers U., Memphis, Tenn., 1 p.m. |
| Cardinal News and Notes: The Cardinals’ Matt Rink garnered a pair of post-season honors in 2005, earning a spot on the All-MIAC First Team, while also being selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V team. … Then-senior Ryan Majerus made his 98th straight start in center field in SMU’s season finale vs. Winona State. … SMU’s season-ending loss to WSU marked the first time all season that the Cardinals had lost a game in which they scored 10 or more runs (5-1). … Rink closed out 2005 as the Cardinals’ leader in virtually every offensive category, including average (.363), hits (37), triples (4), RBIs (29), total bases (60) and slugging percentage (.588). … Rink and teammate Brady Knudsen shared the team lead with 11 multiple-hit games, while the two also boasted eight multiple-RBI games. … David Krieger carried the team’s longest hitting streak (9), while Majerus and Rink each had eight-game streaks. … Matt Popek led the Cardinals’ pitching staff in wins with five, while Jesse Pedersen posted career- and team-bests in ERA (5.08), innings pitched (56.2), complete games (2) and strikeouts (39). … SMU was a perfect 9-0 when outhitting its opponent and finished 10-4 in games when scoring the first run. . |
that much more challenging for Cardinal coach
WINONA, Minn. — When the final out was made in their season-ending loss to NCAA Division II power and cross-town rival Winona State on May 10, 2005, Saint Mary’s University baseball coach Nick Whaley felt a knot in the pit of his stomach.
Not only did that final out — a groundout to short by Kevin Black (Mahtomedi, Minn.) — mark the end of another season, but it also marked the end of the stellar collegiate careers of six Cardinal seniors.
And so, when his Cardinals return to the field at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn., in late February, it’s a bittersweet feeling for the SMU head coach.
For the first time in 98 straight games, Ryan Majerus won’t be running out to his starting position in center field. Matt Rink won’t be launching tape-measure home runs, Jesse Pedersen won’t be making opposing hitters look silly trying to hit his fastball, and Jose Rueda and Pat Jacobsen won’t be manning their familiar positions at third and behind the plate.
On the other hand, it’s a chance for returners like Black, Nick Winecke (St. Paul, Minn.), Dan Cosgrove (South St. Paul, Minn.) and Brady Knudsen (Racine, Wis.) to step into the spotlight.
“We lost a great deal,” admitted Whaley. “That was a great group of experienced,, positive leaders with tireless work ethics — and it’s going to take time to replace that.
“But we do have an enthusiastic group of returners and first-year players who are eager to make their mark on this program,” Whaley added. “The numbers are great — not only the quantity, but the quality."
Now all Whaley has to do is figure out a way to put all the pieces together.
"There are a lot of pieces to put together— this year's team is like one of those 1,000-piece puzzles, not the 500-piece ones," joked Whaley, whose team finsihed with a 16-15 overall record a year ago. "Our focus this year is to make sure we play hard every time we step on the field — play hard and get better as the season goes on."
And if the Cardinals can do that, it's not out of the question that the Cardinals could be playing past their final regular-season game at Concordia on May 3.
"We have a very good schedule this year," Whaley said. "If the weather cooperates, we have the type of schedule that will allow us to be as prepared as we possibly can be heading into the MIAC season."
And once the conference race kicks into high gear, Whaley is hoping his Cardinals will be right in the thick of the chase.
"The conference is going to be tough," said Whaley, whose Cardinals went 8-12 in MIAC play a year ago. "From what I've seen so far, we have the potential to be able to compete with anyone (in the MIAC).
"We'll just have to wait and see how things unfold."