ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University softball team (7-9, 0-2) fell to the top ranked Saint Mary's University Cardinals (14-3, 2-0 MIAC) in the Wildcats home and MIAC opener on Friday afternoon. The Cardinals took game one 16-0, before defeating St. Kate's 13-5 in game two. 

GAME ONE | Saint Mary's 16, St. Catherine 0 (5 innings)
Saint Mary's dominated throughout the game, starting strong in the top of the first inning with a two-run homer. They continued to build on their lead, adding two more runs in the second and five in the third, highlighted by a two-RBI homer. In the fourth, they scored another run, and in the fifth, they exploded for seven more runs, securing a commanding 16-0 lead. St. Catherine struggled offensively, unable to score any runs and recording just one hit through the first five innings.

GAME TWO | Saint Mary's 13, St. Catherine 5 (6 innings)
St. Catherine mounted a strong comeback in the bottom of the 6th inning, scoring one run after Helen McKinnon reached base with a walk and later crossed the plate on Grace Swigart's RBI single. Despite the rally, they couldn't catch up to Saint Mary's, who had already built a solid 13-3 lead through a big five-run top of the 6th. Saint Mary's had been dominant throughout, with key performances including a 3-RBI homer. 

St. Catherine travels to Wis.-Eau Claire on Saturday, March 29. They return to St. Paul on Saturday, April 5 against St. Olaf.