UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State baseball team scored the most runs in a single game this season today (April 8) to beat Alma College, 16-15, in a single-nine inning non-conference match-up.

After allowing four runs in the top of the first inning, the Cardinals came back to put three on the board in their half of the opening inning. Junior Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich.) led off with a single up the middle, and promptly stole second, and third bases (his 16th and 17th of the year) before junior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich.) was walked. Peterson crossed home plate on an error by the Scots’ catcher. Coulter moved to second on an error by the Alma pitcher, and advanced to third on the throw. Junior Ryan Webber (Clio, Mich.) followed with an RBI single to left field, and moved to third off a single from freshman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) and a throwing error by the Scots’ left fielder. Nect up, freshman Jason Potts (Hartland, Mich.) hit an RBI single to right field to end SVSU’s scoring for the inning.

In the second, the Cardinals got the bats going with two outs as junior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich.) singled to left field, moving Coulter to second base, followed by a single from Webber that knocked Coulter in and advanced Thomas to third base. Next up, VanAlst hit an RBI single to left center, putting two runners on for sophomore Dustin Mayner (Gaines, Mich.) who hit a two-strike triple to right-center, driving in two runs.

In the next inning, Peterson hit a monster home run over the left field fence for the Cardinals’ lone run of the third inning.

The SVSU bats would quite down for two innings, before Coulter singled to right field, followed by Thomas smacking a single up the middle, advancing Coulter to third base. With runners on the corners, Webber reached on a fielder’s choice, and advanced to second on a throwing error the Scots’ pitcher, while Coulter scored and Thomas was called out at second. Stepping in to run for Webber, freshman Steve Bateson (Blissfield, Mich), before VanAlst was hit by a pitch. Next up, Mayner reached on a fielder’s choice, as Bateson was tagged out at third to end the inning.

After a pitching change, Potts led off the seventh inning with a walk, after which freshman Todd Buckingham (Big Rapids, Mich.) stepped in to pinch run. Junior Andy Ferraiuolo (Perry, Mich.) drew a walk, followed by senior Kevin Schwedler (Midland, Mich.) getting hit by a pitch, before Peterson was hit by a pitch, forcing Buckingham to cross the plate. Junior Kevin Dore (Bay City, Mich.) stepped in to pinch run for Schwedler after the Scots made another pitching change. Coulter stepped in to face the new pitcher and hit a three-RBI double to right-center field. Thomas the reached first after he struck out swinging on an error by the Alma catcher, while Coulter advanced to third base. Freshman Ryan Ermers (Utica, Mich.) stepped in to pinch run for Thomas, followed by junior Josh Kozuch (Bay City, Mich.) getting hit by a pitch, and an RBI single off junior Derek Foyt’s bat to end the scoring in the seventh inning for the Cardinals.

In the eighth inning, the Cardinals were able to put three more runs on the board as Dore led the inning off with an infield single, but was then caught trying to steal second base. Peterson dug in, and hit a single to right field, and advanced to third off a failed pickoff attempt and error by the Alma pitcher. Coulter then drew a walk, before Ermers grounded out to third base, moving Coulter to second. Kozuch then hit a two-RBI double to left center field to round out the Cardinals’ scoring in the game.

On the mound, junior Mac Harmon (Plainwell, Mich.) got the start, before handing the ball over to junior Scott Haase (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) in the fourth inning. Haase went four innings, allowed two runs on five hits, and striking out nine batters. Senior Larry Roelens (Port Huron, Mich.) stepped in for the final two innings, and allowed three runs on two hits while striking out two.

The win improves SVSU’s overall record to 11-17, while they remain at 7-8 in the GLIAC, while Alma falls to 6-9 overall. The Cardinals will return to action tomorrow (April 9) for a doubleheader with GLIAC rival Grand Valley State, scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at the SVSU Athletic Complex.