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Entering Saturday’s home doubleheader with Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Carleton College, the Cardinals had won eight of their last 11, were in third place in the MIAC standings and were a sweep away from clinching a playoff spot.
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SMU left fielder Cassie Otte makes the catch for an out as teammate Danielle Geske tries to get of the way during the Cardinals’ first game of a MIAC doubleheader against Carleton Saturday in Winona. (Photo by Andrew Link of the Winona Daily News) |
Not only did they get the sweep and secure a place in the playoffs, beating the Knights 4-2 and 11-4, they got to do it during Senior Day, the last home game for five Cardinals, including pitcher Megan Wallisch.
“I just wanted to make sure it was a good game for my fellow seniors,” Wallisch said. “I wanted to make sure it was a day that everyone could look back on with fond memories.”
It was easy for Wallisch to focus more on her fellow seniors than the pressure of clinching a playoff spot.
“I wasn’t really feeling any pressure. I didn’t even realize these games would clinch our spot,” Wallisch said. “I didn’t find out until after the game when they announced it.”
At least one senior knew about the importance of Saturday’s game beforehand.
“It’s pretty big that we clinched a playoff spot,” Nikki Jung said. “We knew that we’ll probably have to play St. Thomas and Gustavus again, so it’s big today that we can just kind of breathe a sigh of relief and not have so much pressure on us when we play St. Olaf (on Monday).”
Jung provided a big spark for SMU in Game 1.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Jung hit what proved to be the game-winning home run.
“My first two at bats I was pretty early on the ball, so I moved up in the box and she just threw me a first pitch that was right down the middle so it was a pretty easy pitch to hit.”
That extra cushion helped calm Wallisch, who had struggled in the second inning, allowing Carleton’s Michael Johnson to third and score on back-to-back wild pitches.
Johnson gave Wallisch problems in Game 2 as well. With the Cardinals up 6-0, she hit a grand slam to pull the Knights to within two.
“It’s just one of those things,” Wallisch said. “I just missed my spot, But our offense was on fire today, so I knew it wouldn’t be a big deal. Even with the two runs in the first game, I wasn’t worried because I knew my defense was behind me and our offense is always there to pick it up.”
Wallisch picked up the win in both games, going the distance in Game 1, striking out three and holding the Knights (8-28, 4-16) to no earned runs on five hits.
Game 2 saw Wallisch allow five hits again, while striking out six and walking one in five innings.
The Cardinals’ offense dominated the second game, led by senior Tara Close, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, and Hanna Schmitt, who was 2-for-4 with four RBIs.
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HA wrote on May 5, 2007 8:02 PM: