UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team swept a doubleheader against Rochester College today (May 3) by scores of 8-7 and 18-6 in the regular-season closer.
Game One
After giving up two runs in the top of the inning, the Cardinals responded with a three-run first inning blast, as freshman Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich. / Bullock Creek HS) put one over the center field fence, knocking in Drew Woock (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) and Matt Hunt (Howell, Mich. / Howell HS).
A five-run second inning would give Saginaw Valley a four-run advantage. The rally began as Woock singled down the right field line, advancing Hunt to third and Eric Burt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) home. Sophomore Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich./Clio HS) would step into the batter's box and knock a grand-slam, hitting in O'Boyle, Woock and Hunt.
The Warriors were able to get three runs in the top of the seventh inning; however it would not be enough, as the Cardinals closed for the victory, 8-7.
Leading the way for Saginaw Valley was VanAlst, who recorded four RBIs on two hits with one grand-slam, while O'Boyle posted three RBIs on the first inning homerun. Hunt, Woock, and Potts all had two hits on the afternoon as well.
Game Two
Saginaw Valley took a three-run lead in the bottom of the second inning, beginning with a lead-off single up the middle off the bat of Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich./Northville HS), who would end up scoring the first run on a double by junior Dustin Mayner (Linden, Mich. / Linden HS). Sophomore Luke McClain (Mt. Morris, Mich. / E.A. Johnson HS) would double to left field, advancing Ryan Ermers (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Henry Ford II HS) to third base and scoring O'Boyle. Ermers scored the third run on a sacrifice fly-out before the third out of the inning.
Rochester College would take a one-run lead in the top of the third inning, scoring four runs, however the Cardinal offense took control of the game by posting a nine-run response in the bottom of the inning. O'Boyle recorded one of his two homeruns of the game, while Thomas, Ermers and Kevin Dore (Kawkawlin, Mich./Bay City Western) all hit doubles in the inning.
The Cardinals pressed their eight-run lead to an 11-run advantage, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as O'Boyle knocked in another three runs on another bomb. The Warriors would respond with only two runs in the top of the sixth, as Saginaw Valley posted another three-run inning in the bottom half. The Cardinal defense would shut out Rochester College in the top of the seventh inning to go onto victory, 18-6.
Saginaw Valley was led overall by O'Boyle, who ended the game with three hits, five RBIs, two homeruns in four plate appearances. Thomas and Mayner also posted three hits on the contest while Potts recorded three RBIs.
Junior Matt Jacobson (North Branch, Mich. / Jackson CC) gained his first win of the season on the mound for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals end their regular season with an overall record of 22-21 and remain at 16-15 in the GLIAC while Rochester College falls to 14-22 overall on the season. SVSU will return to action as they take on the #1 seed Wayne State University Warriors in the first round of the 2010 GLIAC Tournament on Thursday (May 6) at the VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 pm.