UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw
Valley State baseball team dropped two conference games today
(April 10) in double-header action to Wayne State, 8-5 and 2-0.
Game 1
The game was held at zero until the top of the fifth inning when
Wayne State put two runs on the scoreboard. The Cardinals’
quick response came in the bottom of the inning as junior Andy
Ferraiuolo (Perry, Mich.) hit a single to left center field before
junior Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich.) drew a walk to put batters on
first and second base. Junior Kevin Dore (Bay City, Mich.) reached
first on a fielder’s choice by laying down a bunt to load the
bases for junior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich.) who hit a
two-run single down the right field line. Dore would advance to
third base as Peterson and Ferraiuolo would score. Thomas moved to
second on a balk with junior Ryan Webber (Clio, Mich.) up to bat
who popped up to the pitcher. Junior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich.)
would advance Thomas to third on a single to second base before
freshman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) drew a walk to load the bases.
Sophomore Dustin Mayner (Gaines, Mich.) would also draw a walk,
scoring Thomas and advancing VanAlst and Coulter to second and
third bases, respectively.
Freshman Jason Potts (Hartland, Mich.) stepped into the
batter’s box and would hit a single up the middle to advance
the runners and score Coulter, giving the Cardinals a three-run
lead, 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Unfortunately this would be
all Saginaw Valley would score for the game as the Warriors went on
to score a total of six runs in the final two innings of the
contest to capture the win, 8-5. Cardinal freshman Ryan Longstreth
(Beaverton, Mich.) threw 5.2 innings allowing nine hits, six runs
and struck out three batters. Sophomore Scott Horman (St. Louis,
Mich.) would take over the mound to throw 1.1 innings allowing
three hits, two runs while striking out one batter.
Game 2
Saginaw Valley had trouble finding their offensive stride, as they
were only able to produce three hits against Wayne State’s
pitcher. The Cardinals started their three-hit game in the second
inning as Mayner hit a two-out double to left field, however he
would not advance bases before the third out.
Junior Josh Kozuch (Bay City, Mich.) singled up the middle to
begin the third inning before being thrown out on a fielder’s
choice at second base. Webber hit a single to right field with two
outs in the fourth inning, however the Cardinals could not hold on
as they were unsuccessful to connect for a run. Freshman Steven
Janes (Chesterton, Ind.) faced 30 batters in the full seven
innings, allowed two runs off five hits and struck out three on the
game.
With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 11-20 overall and 7-11 in the
GLIAC while the Warriors move to 16-16 overall and 10-7 in the
GLIAC. The two teams will meet again tomorrow (April 11) at noon in
a nine-inning game at the SVSU Sports Complex.