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Saturday, March 27, 2004 |
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(Through Thursday, February 19) |
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The Cardinals closed out their eight-game spring trip to Orange, Calif., on March 14 with an 8-0 win over Trinity (Texas). … The eighth-ranked Knights ran their season-opening winning streak to 16 by winning all four games in the Simpson Classic. |
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Jenni Gutterman (Shoreview, Minn.) hit a team-leading .593 in SMU's eight games during the Sun West Tournament. The sophomore third baseman collected 16 hits in 27 at-bats, including two doubles, two triples, and her first collegiate home run. … She boasted a .926 slugging percentage and stole a team-leading six bases in seven attempts. … At one point, Gutterman reached base safely in 17 straight at-bats. … Gutterman, who also hit safely in seven of SMU's eight games — including a season-opening five-game hitting streak — collected five-multiple-hit games. … Jenny Schipp (North St. Paul, Minn.) also boasts a five-game hitting streak, collecting at least one hit in SMU's last five games. … Tara Close (North St. Paul, Minn.) and Amy Lang (Oshkosh, Wis.) led the team with seven RBIs each. … SMU outscored its opponents 51-17, including 11-3 in the first inning, 9-0 in the third, 9-1 in the fourth and 11-0 in the seventh. … As a team, the Cardinals hit .352 in their eight Sun West Tournament games, collecting 14 extra-base hits. … The Cardinals stole 14 bases in 20 attempts. |
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Year Hometown |
WINONA, Minn. — WINONA, Minn. — Now this is what you call a road trip.
Between Thursday evening and this morning, the Saint Mary’s University fastpitch softball team traveled more than 16 hours — to play a home doubleheader.
The Cardinals hopped on a bus Thursday evening bound for St. Louis, Mo., and the Washington University tournament.
Late Friday afternoon, after having the entire tournament washed out by rain, the Cardinals reboarded their bus for home.
But, thanks to some quick thinking by coach Nikki Fennern — not to mention unlimited cell phone minutes — the weekend was not a total wash. Fennern was able to get in touch with Wartburg coach Kara Kehe, whose team also had its weekend in St. Louis, Mo., rained out, and after working out some logistical problems, the teams agreed to meet in Winona for today’s nonconference doubleheader.
“What a crazy, crazy 24 hours,” admitted Fennern. “We really were looking forward to getting some more games in.
“But you can only control the controlables — we can’t control the weather,” continued Fennern. “We drove all the way to St. Louis and all it did was rain — but back home, it was sunny and warm, so we made the decision to try and get in a few games back (in Winona).
“We’re excited about playing on our home field.”
At this stage, the Cardinals are excited to be playing at all.
With just eight games under their belt, and their conference-opener against defending champion St. Thomas looming on the horizon, getting in a couple of games this weekend was crucial for the Cardinals. Add to the fact that Wartburg is a regional opponent, and it’s no wonder Fennern spent so much time with her cell phone glued to her ear.
“It’s important that we get some games in,” said Fennern, whose team has not played since an 8-0 win over Trinity on March 14 that completed a 5-3 performance at the Sun West Tournament in Orange, Calif. “Hopefully, the weather will be a little more cooperative (in Winona) than it was in St. Louis.”