AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team split with Mansfield University today (Mar. 10) on the final day of their annual spring trip. SVSU won the first game 23-1, while dropping the second 13-5. The Cardinals are now 3-8 on the season.

Game 1

The Cardinal bats came alive in the first game as they scored early and often. Saginaw Valley scored three or more runs in five of the seven innings, while posting 19 total hits on their way to a 23-1 victory.

Andy Orr (Utica, Mich.) started the Cardinal scoring in the first inning with an RBI single to right field. Chet LaFave (Charlotte, Mich./Olney Central College) capped off a four-run first as he ripped a two-RBI single to right center to plate Orr and Ryan Ermers (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II HS), who singled earlier in the inning.

The SVSU offense was led by Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS) who went 4-for-4 from the dish, including four RBI's and three runs scored. Brandon Schwanz (Novi, Mich./Henry Ford CC) was 3-for-4 in the contest with a triple and four runs, while pinch-hitter Kyle Kaufmann (Saginaw, Mich./Valley Lutheran HS) added a bases-loaded triple to notch three RBI in the seventh inning.

First baseman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) also recorded a triple as he finished the contest 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBI's. Jason Potts (Hartland, Mich.) posted the final runs for the Cardinals as he tripled to deep left center field to score Nathan Kuehne (Midland, Mich.).

Michael Craig (Milan, Mich.) added two runs and two walks for SVSU, while Eric Burt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) posted an RBI and two stolen bases.

Cardinal starting pitcher Colin Coulter (Clio, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) moved to 2-0 on the season with a compete game three-hitter, including six strikeouts. Coulter allowed just one run while throwing 100 pitches.

Game 2

Saginaw Valley faced a 1-0 deficit heading into the bottom half of the first inning before Cam Wiechmann (Birch Run, Mich./Muskegon CC) belted a deep, two-run home run over the left field fence to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.

Three batters later, Orr crushed a double to left center field to bring home O'Boyle and VanAlst, who both drew walks in the first. Ermers would cap off a big first inning with a first-pitch single to left field to plate Orr and give SVSU a 5-1 lead.

The Mountaineers answered with two runs in the third and eight runs in the fifth to take an 11-5 advantage. The Cardinal offense was unable to rally and ultimately fell, 13-5.

Eight members of the SVSU pitching staff made an appearance in the contest. The Cardinals also recorded five errors in the game two loss.

The Cardinals will head home and prepare for the start of GLIAC play in two weeks, starting with a weekend homestand against Hillsdale on March 24 and 25.