Cardinals extend winning streak to 7 with sweep of UW-L

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Jill Hocking (Apple Valley, Minn.) tossed her third shutout of the season in Game 1 and the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softbal team scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning as the Cardinals swept a nonconference doubleheader from UW-La Crosse Monday afternoon, winning the first game 3-0 and the nightcap 7-3 in eight innings.

Hocking tossed a five-hitter in winning Game 1, walking two and striking out a season-high 10. Offensively, the Cardinals — who have now won seven straight in improving to 13-5 overall — got all the runs they would need in the third inning as Niki Lynch (Winona, Minn.) laced a one-out double and scored on an error by UW-L second baseman Sarah Hanson. Hocking helped her own cause in the fourth inning, lauching a one-out, two-run home run, her second of the season.

After battling to a 3-3 tie through seven innings of the second game, SMU broke things open with four runs in the top of the eighth. Lindsey Smith (Elma, Iowa) reached on an error to open the inning and eventually scored on the Eagles' second error of the inning. Lynch drove in SMU's second run with a two-out single, while Ann Munzenmaier (Urbandale, Iowa) made it 6-3 when she scored on a while pitch, and a Jennifer Meyer (Oconomowoc, Wis.) single plated Lynch with SMU's fourth run of the inning.

Missy Blaser (Austin, Minn.) picked up the pitching win, coming on in relief of starter Jennifer Gonerka (St. Paul, Minn.) with one out and runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh. Blaser rossed 1.1 innings of hitless relief, striking out one batter.