WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – After going eight
games without a win, the Saginaw Valley State men’s baseball
team broke into the win column today (March 13) by sweeping
Wheeling Jesuit University in Russ Matt Tournament action. In Game
1, the Cardinals won 6-1, and Game 2, 2-1.
In Game 1, SVSU got things going early on with junior Charlie
Thomas (Northville, Mich.) drawing a two-out walk, followed by
sophomore Dustin Mayner (Gaines, Mich.) slapping a single through
the right side, followed by another single by junior Ryan Webber
(Clio, Mich.) to right field that scored Thomas to give Saginaw
Valley the early advantage.
It wasn’t until the SVSU fourth inning the Cardinal bats
soared by posting five runs. Leading off the inning, Webber smacked
a double to right center field, followed by junior Chase Coulter
(Clio, Mich.) tapped a single, and advanced to second on a Wheeling
Jesuit error, scoring Webber from second base. After the Cardinals
drew walks to load the bases, junior Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich.)
hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field, scoring Coulter from
third base. Junior Andy Ferriauolo (Perry, Mich.) was next up, and
hit a single to load the bases for the big bat of Thomas, who
clobbered a double to drive home three runs to cap the scoring for
SVSU, and the game.
On the mound, junior Kevin Kerner (Richmond, Mich.) threw a
complete game, allowing only one run on five hits with five strike
outs. Thomas hit 2-for-3 and drove in three RBIs and Webber hit
2-for-3 on the morning with RBI.
Game 2 was all about defense, as SVSU was only able to get two
runs to cross the plate – the first coming in the bottom of
the first after the Cards were able to get Peterson aboard, who
promptly stole second base, followed by a perfect bunt laid down by
junior Kevin Dore (Bay City, Mich.) that advanced Peterson to
third. With runners at the corners, SVSU got on the board as
Wheeling Jesuit’s pitcher threw a wild pitch that allowed
Peterson to cross home plate for the game’s first run.
The Cardinal’s next run came in the bottom of the second,
when freshman Steve Pistono (Sterling Heights, Mich.) singled and
advanced to second on a fielding error by the Wheeling Jesuit left
fielder to start the inning. Next up, freshman Jason Potts
(Hartland, Mich.) struck out swinging, followed by a single by
Ferriauolo and an error by by Wheeling Jesuit’s left fielder
that scored Pistino from second base.
On the mound for the Cardinal’s second victory, junior Mac
Harmon (Plainwell, Mich.) gets the win by allowing only one run on
five hits with three strike outs.
The wins give the Cardinals a 2-8 record overall as they will
return to action for their last double header of the Russ Matt
Tournament tomorrow when they do battle with Assumption College.