WINONA, Minn. — It wasn't a matter of how many runs the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team scored last Saturday, but rather how many Augsburg didn't score.

Hanni Lohmann (Lake Elmo, Minn.) tossed an eight-inning, three-hit shutout and Jennifer Gonerka (St. Paul, Minn.) added a seven-hit, eight-strikeout complete-game performance in the nightcap as the Cardinals swept the Auggies 1-0 and 2-0.

And so it has gone for the Cardinals in their last three conference doubleheaders.

After opening the MIAC season by thumping St. Olaf 9-0 and 13-0, SMU has scored just five runs in its last four games — and still managed to win three of the four.

SMU got a one-out, bases-loaded single by Jenny Schipp (North St. Paul, Minn.) to beat Hamline 1-0 in Game 1, then belted out seven hits in the second game — but scored only once to show for their efforts. Hamline, meanwhile, made the most of their three hits off Lohmann as the Pipers' Amanda Gage gave Hamline a 3-0 third-inning advantage with one swing of the bat. belting a two-out home run.

"Runs have been a little hard to come by right now, and that is a bit of a concern," admitted SMU coach Nikki Fennern. "But we've been getting great pitching — Jen and Hanni have been keeping us in there."

And with those two keeping the opposition at bay, the Cardinals haven't needed much offensive support.

SMU scored just once in Game 1 against the Auggies, but Lohmann was near-flawless, allowing just three hits — all singles. Unfortunately, as quiet as the Augsburg offense was, the Cardinals' offense was equally silent.

Until the eighth inning.

Krista Conway (Mendota Heights, Minn.) opened the eighth with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice by Jen Gutterman and scored on Amy Langer's (Savage, Minn.) single.

SMU's offense showed some signs of life in Game 2, picking up seven hits — including a 3-for-4 performance from Langer.

And with the additional hits, came additional runs, as SMU plated single runs in the second and third innings to ice the win.

But then, with Gonerka on the mound, two runs was more than enough. The senior right-hander struck out a season-high eight batters in posting her team-leading fourth complete game of the season.

Schipp drove in SMU's first run of Game 2 with an RBI singles in the second, while the Cardinals' second run came on a throwing error in the third.

"We need our offense to get on track, no question about that," said Fennern, who is hoping Monday might be that day, as SMU plays host to Carleton. "This team has the ability to be a very explosive offensive team. Right now we're struggling a bit to find our groove, but once we do … ."

* THIS AND THAT: SMU's 3-1 loss to Hamline last Thursday snapped the Cardinals' season-high six-game winning streak. … During its last nine games — in which SMU has gone 8-1 — the Cardinals have outscored their opponents 43-8. … In their last six games, that total is 27-3. … Amy Langer (Savage, Minn.) hit a team-leading .476 (10-for-21) with a double and five runs scored in SMU's six games last week, while Amy Edge (Mineral Point, Wis.) was close behind at .471. … Jackie Huegel (Alta Vista, Iowa) drove in five runs and collected two doubles and a triple last week. … SMU pitchers Jennifer Gonerka, Hanni Lohmann (Lake Elmo, Minn.) and Jenny Schipp (North St. Paul, Minn.) allowed just three walks in 41 innings last week. … Gonerka went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA last week. She struck out 14 and walked just one in 17.0 innings. … Lohmann, meanwhile, went 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in 18.0 innings. … Langer has had two or more hits in nine of the 16 games she's played. … SMU's 13 runs scored vs. St. Olaf were a season high, and the most since a 20-7 win over Bethel on April 20, 2002.